“[The children] are always stressed. Constant anxiety. We notice that Syrian children, through our work with them, they are not like other children. They’re always stressed. Any unfamiliar noise, if a chair moves, or if a door bangs shut, they have a reaction. This is the result of their fear – of the sound of planes, of rockets, of war,” explained Ahmed, a recreational coordinator in Idlib, Syria.” This statement, released by the international humanitarian organization Save the Children, reveals the harsh reality of how living in conflict zones significantly impacts children’s mental health.
Many children living in conflict zones have been displaced and separated from their families and friends. This loss and instability contributes to high levels of depression and anxiety in children. In addition to the depression and anxiety that displacement and separation causes, children in Yemen face ongoing trauma from repeated bombing and attacks. This has led to children living in a constant state of anxiety or fear. They are constantly worried about their safety, whether they are attending school or simply going about their day to day activities. The following statement was also released by Save the Children to illustrate just how devastating this situation is, “Seeing the destruction and rubble left by the war in the region, especially remains of a school that a child used to attend, has contributed to the deterioration of children’s psychosocial well-being. Children are beginning to exhibit signs of chronic anxiety, fear and insecurity,” said a school principal from Taiz, Yemen. This state of anxiety can cause many issues such as bedwetting, difficulty falling asleep, nightmares, and strained relationships with their loved ones which can heavily impact their lives.
In addition to experiencing anxiety, children living in conflict zones may also experience emotional withdrawal. With constant exposure to violence, many become desensitized and emotionally numb. Olha, a mother of seven living in northern Ukraine stated “We’ve become used to the bombing. It’s been almost a year already, so we’re used to it. The longer it takes, the harder it is. The children are used to shelling. When it gets too loud, they run, but otherwise they ignore it”. A humanitarian aid worker in Taiz, Yemen stated “Children are growing isolated and introverted; they no longer interact with their communities and peers… some have been born into this and do not know what a friend is”. These heartbreaking statements show just how emotionally desensitized these children have become. The sounds of bombs are no longer alarming, it is part of their reality everyday.
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