Friday, October 25, 2024
Author: Sohaib Satti
Country: Sudan
Source: The MHPSS Collaborative "Don’t Leave Mental Health Behind: Sudan’s Conflict Displaces 100,000, Highlighting Urgent Need for Psychosocial Support" (https://mhpsscollaborative.org/)
SUMMARY
The mental health of youth worldwide is increasingly concerning, especially in war-torn regions like Sudan, where the ongoing conflict has intensified psychological struggles among young people. Sudanese youth face daily trauma from displacement, loss, and interrupted education, yet mental health remains a stigmatized topic. Despite limited resources, many young Sudanese exhibit resilience, often drawing strength from community, activism, and support networks. However, resilience alone cannot overcome these challenges; accessible mental health services and supportive environments are essential. Addressing the crisis requires a global effort to reduce stigma, provide mental health resources, and prioritize emotional well-being for youth in conflict-affected areas.
BACKGROUND
Recently, there has been a global concern for the mental welfare of the youth and adolescents. The claims of war, political instability, social oppression and personal factors have a negative psychological impact on the youth and thus acquiring the ability to withstand adversity is very important. It is no different in countries like Sudan who are suffering from an ongoing armed conflict which further emphasizes these unspoken battles.
Sudan being a war torn politically volatile country has seen youth in this generation being exposed to conflict displacement and helplessness. The present conflict which commenced in April 2023 has already had a disastrous effect. In particular for the young population in Sudan, the effects are significant, both in terms of the danger to their lives, as well as maintaining their emotional well-being.
The day to day lives of many young Sudanese people are characterized by trauma as a result of conflict, the death of relatives, the loss of houses, and the interruption of schooling. Communities have been destroyed by the war which has made people more solitary and cut off from social contact. Due to the difficulty in accessing education, healthcare, and other essentials, mental health among youth in Sudan deteriorates at an alarming rate.
Many of the Young people in Sudan have their struggles and fight daily with PTSD, anxiety and depression. But, to extent it probably holds true in many other different communities as well, mental health is still incredibly taboo topic across the country. We preach the words of "stay strong" and "persevere," without providing the necessary support opportunities for people—specifically youth—to openly struggle with their emotions. Stigma and resource poverty have also limited how well those who suffer from mental illnesses can be treated, unnoticed by the rest of society.
A young Sudanese which wrestles with mental health issues is facing this worldwide trend. The youths are too much stressed across the globe, with regards to academic performance and financial uncertainty along with fears for the future. Young people are affected with more challenges like climate change, increased unemployment and they are feeling hopeless due to uncertainty in their life.These type of anxieties have only been increased by a worldwide health crisis.
In the countries like Sudan, these problems are exacerbated by the existence of a civil war, poverty and political instability. Young people feel very helpless being alleged falsely and not able to defend their own lives too, instead of having right to life and bright future. Young people are forced to lead life with the physical and psychological effects of feeling trapped in a zone of hopelessness.
However, many Sudanese youth exhibit an amazing resilience which continues to thrive despite all the challenges. One thing that proves beneficial for the mental health, is resilience or how well you bounce back from set-backs. Some youths may gain strength from the support from their community or religion.The family structure also supports them the learning of resilience traits… whilst others turn to activism as an avenue in which they can express themselves more fully to bring the changes through acts of creative defiance.
For example, in Sudan, youth-led initiatives have emerged in response to the war. These initiatives focus on providing psychological support, raising awareness about mental health, and creating safe spaces for young people to share their experiences. Grassroots organizations have also played a key role in building resilience by offering trauma counseling and fostering a sense of community among youth.
However, resilience is not a cure-all. It requires a supportive environment, access to mental health services, and opportunities for personal growth and healing. For many Sudanese youth, these resources remain scarce, making resilience a difficult trait to cultivate.
This, therefore, calls for any effort to instil the mental health crisis among Sudanese youth-and the youth across the world. This is something that governments, international organizations and communities need to make mental health services a priority, particularly in areas with prolonged conflicts. This implies trauma counseling, mental health education, and freedom of expression to the young people with no fear of any consequency.
Global efforts need to be channeled into dissipating the stigma associated with mental health. Public awareness, peer-to-peer support programs, and advocacy of rights for mental health can help bring openness and support to youth for sharing their struggles.
It means that the mental health problems in the psyche of the modern youth, especially in Sudan, are deep, yet often invisible. Resilience can enable young people to deal with such adversities; however, it is not something on which one should exclusively rely. Society needs to address the reasons for their struggles, provide access to mental health resources, and also cultivate a culture embracing emotional well-being to support them in true sense.
REFERENCES
1. Al Jazeera. (2023). Sudan conflict: Youth caught in the crossfire. Retrieved from [https://www.aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com)
2. MHPSS Collaborative. (2023). Don’t leave mental health behind: Sudan’s conflict displaces 100,000, highlighting urgent need for psychosocial support. Retrieved from [https://mhpsscollaborative.org](https://mhpsscollaborative.org)
3. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2023). Global mental health and war-affected youth. Retrieved from [https://www.nimh.nih.gov](https://www.nimh.nih.gov)
4. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Mental health consequences of war: A brief review of research findings. Retrieved from [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
5. Sudan Tribune. (2023). Sudan war fuels mental health crisis, aid groups warn. Retrieved from [https://sudantribune.com](https://sudantribune.com)
6. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (2023). Sudan crisis: The impact on children and families. Retrieved from [https://www.unicef.org](https://www.unicef.org)
7. World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Mental health of refugees, asylum seekers, and conflict-affected populations. Retrieved from [https://www.who.int](https://www.who.int
)
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