Mohamed al Suliman
WHO
Psychologist and trainer in Maarrat al-Nu'man, northern Syria
“When the crisis started, I knew right away that I would have to flee and leave my job teaching psychology at Aleppo University.
Seven years later we have a mental health crisis in Syria that is only just beginning. While we face extreme mental health problems now, I can assure you that they will double, triple, quadruple when the war is over. When people no longer have to bury their problems to focus on survival and basic needs, that is when the extraordinary loss, depression, isolation, anger, antisocial behaviour, negativity and hopelessness will surface.
Right now, we have a severe shortage of people in mental health services in Syria. The situation will be catastrophic in the years to come. For people in my field, this is very scary. We need to be planning for this now. We need much more than a ceasefire in Syria. To solve this crisis, we must take care of people’s health.”
