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Mental health support lifts displaced communities in times of crisis
Marib, Yemen
Amid the harsh realities of conflict, displacement, poverty and crumbling infrastructure, the mental health and psychosocial well-being of Yemenis hangs in the balance. For many, every day is a relentless fight for survival, taking a huge toll on their mental health. Yet amid hardship, there are glimmers of resilience.
For Salwa*, the outbreak of war dealt a major blow to her once stable life in the city of Sana'a. She had built a happy life full of love and hope with her loving husband Saleh and their precious children. Despite the difficulties, they had managed to create a semblance of stability. But as unrest in the city intensified, the family made the difficult decision to flee to Marib.
The problem of evacuation wasn't just limited to the journey: I brought my family to safety, but I didn't have the money to house them.
Starting a new life in a strange place was a real burden.
The struggle to evacuate
Despite this shocking turn of events, the family decided to remain in a simple shelter until the situation improved, but the burden of displacement fell heavily on Salwa's shoulders.
“I found myself only looking at the negative side of things,” she recalls. “Even my relationships with my husband and children deteriorated. I stopped caring about myself, my family and my home.”
As mental distress slowly crept into Salwa's life, she dropped out of school, isolated herself from others and lost interest in everyday activities. Faced with this situation, Saleh felt deeply helpless and grew gloomier with each passing day.
Mental Health Crisis
Years of conflict have led to a silent mental health crisis across the country. This alarming situation is further exacerbated by a severe shortage of trained professionals and treatment facilities. As a result, an estimated seven million people are currently suffering from psychological problems and stress caused by the ongoing conflict.
In Yemen's close-knit society, there is a long-standing misconception that mental health and psychological support is only for those with serious illnesses, preventing many from seeking help when they need it most.
“Before, if I heard that someone was going to a psychiatrist, I assumed they were crazy,” Salwa says.
Recognizing the urgent need for mental health care, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has stepped in to provide essential mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services to conflict-affected communities in Marib city, which hosts the largest number of displaced and vulnerable migrants.
IOM psychologist Maha Mouhieddine has been deeply involved in responding to these urgent mental health needs. Working with IOM in 2021, Maha has taken on the role of psychologist at the permanent clinic in Al Jufina and actively supports MHPSS services delivered by Mobile Medical Teams (MMTs). These teams play a key role in providing essential mental health and psychosocial support to remote communities around Marib.
Raising awareness
Throughout her career, Maha has encountered many people in need of mental health support, but she believes displaced people are particularly vulnerable. Together with her team, she provides a wide range of services, including counselling, individual and group psychotherapy sessions, psychoeducation, group discussions and other psychosocial activities.
“Due to displacement and the deterioration of living conditions, the mental health of many of the people we meet has deteriorated significantly,” Maha explains. “Many come to us in crisis situations, having exhausted almost all available resources and facing dire setbacks.”
When Saleh found out about the psychological support offered by IOM at the Al Jufaina clinic, he was eager to seek help for his wife. “I believe that mental health support is essential for any family,” Saleh stresses. “It is as important as physical health, especially given the stressful situations many of us have to go through.”
Saleh is a strong advocate of raising awareness within communities about the importance of mental health and psychosocial support. He believes it is crucial to change perceptions about mental health and highlight its role in providing relief to everyone, not just those facing extreme situations.
Get help
Salwa's decision to visit Maha's clinic was the beginning of her journey to healing. Her treatment began with prescription medication to ease her severe symptoms, followed by 10 psychotherapy sessions over three months. It took several sessions before Salwa finally began to understand her true feelings and what they meant.
“She confided in me that she didn't want to live anymore,” Maha recalls. “Her symptoms were severe and marked by persistent insomnia and constant negative thinking.”
As time passed, Salwa began to feel a little better and understand the importance of mental health and the impact it has on one's life. She eventually went back to school and started a small business selling handicrafts.
Once Salwa and Saleh's main problems were resolved, the family's situation began to improve. Saleh worked as a math teacher at a nearby school, and Salwa sold accessories to support her family. She also reconnected with her children and friends, and learned how to emerge stronger in times of crisis. Salwa now encourages those around her to not hesitate to ask for help.
“Coming here has made me realise that it's normal to seek this kind of support,” Salwa explains. “It's reassuring to find someone you can open up to and trust your life to. It makes you feel safe.”
Footnotes IOM’s MPHSS support in Yemen is funded by EU humanitarian aid and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).
