Shafaq News/ The human toll of Iraq’s long history ofconflict runs deeper than the rubble of shattered cities. From the drawn-outclash with Iran to the 2003 US invasion and the terror wrought by ISIS, Iraqishave endured decades of violence that continue to shape their daily lives.
The emotional and psychological wounds left behind areprofound, etched into a society still living with the shadows of its past,while burdened by political instability, social fragmentation, and economicstrain. As these pressures intensify, the nation’s mental well-being continuesto fray.
A Legacy of Conflict
Since its establishment in 1921, Iraq has endured five majorconventional conflicts, each leaving deeper scars than the last. The 2003invasion, in particular, shattered national security and opened the door toextremist groups, plunging the region into deeper turmoil.
But the damage goes far beyond physical destruction. Yearsof violence, compounded by unemployment, poverty, and corruption, have erodedpublic morale and triggered a nationwide mental health crisis. Sectariandivides and political dysfunction continue to tear at the country’s socialfabric.
Today, Iraq stands at a crossroads of compounding threats,ranging from the looming electricity shortages as summer nears, to the fallingoil prices threatening public salaries, and the persistent fears of an ISIS resurgenceor Israeli airstrikes. Political analyst Abdullah al-Kinani stressed the weightof these uncertainties. “The Iraqi people live with constant fear, fear ofwhat’s coming next, on top of failing services, poor education, and crumblinghealthcare,” he told Shafaq News.
Al-Kinani also warned of Iraq’s fragile position in avolatile neighborhood. Rising US-Iran tensions, ongoing chaos in Syria, andinstability in Yemen and Jordan all feed national anxiety. “Iraq is surroundedby turmoil,” he observed, “and the psychological impact is only worsened by thecountry’s long history of conflict.”
The Silent Epidemic
The physical scars left by decades of conflict areundeniable. However, the invisible wounds run even deeper as they affectmillions of Iraqis who continue to bear the weight of trauma long after thesounds of gunfire fade into the distance.
The 2024 report by the World Health Organization (WHO)reveals the staggering toll of this crisis, showing that nearly 30% of Iraqisexposed to extreme violence now suffer from trauma-related disorders. Amongthem, 21.5% experience debilitating anxiety, while 12.5% are grappling withsevere depression—figures that reflect more than just statistics; theyrepresent lives forever altered by pain and loss.
Nevertheless, the mental health crisis in Iraq extends farbeyond these well-known conditions. According to WHO, depression and anxietyare now the leading causes of disability in the country, reflecting apopulation living in constant psychological distress. A study published in TheLancet Psychiatry in 2024 highlighted the scale of the issue, revealing thatnearly 7.6 million Iraqis suffer from mental illnesses. Yet, fewer than 15%have access to any form of treatment.
Compounding this already dire situation is the risingprevalence of complex PTSD (C-PTSD), a condition resulting from prolongedexposure to multiple traumatic events. Survivors of Iraq’s occupation,sectarian violence, and forced displacement are particularly vulnerable. A 2023study by the Iraqi Red Crescent found that 32% of displaced Iraqis show signsof C-PTSD, with some regions seeing even higher rates.
The mental health toll of Iraq’s ongoing crisis alsomanifests physically. Many Iraqis, particularly in conflict zones, are battlingsomatic symptom disorders, where unresolved psychological distress translatesinto chronic physical ailments. Echoing this sentiment, is a 2023 study by theUniversity of Baghdad, revealing that nearly 47% of women in conflict-affectedareas suffer from chronic pain, headaches, and gastrointestinal issues
Meanwhile, in urban areas heavily impacted by violence, theincidence of psychosis and schizophrenia has soared among young adults. TheIraqi Ministry of Health reported in 2024 a startling 25% increase inschizophrenia diagnoses, particularly in cities like Mosul and Baghdad.
On the Verge of a Societal Collapse?
This ongoing crisis extends into the realm of substanceabuse, particularly synthetic drugs like Captagon. Many Iraqis, in a desperatebid to cope with the psychological pain they cannot address, have turned tothese substances as a form of self-medication. The Ministry of Health, incollaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),reported a 40% increase in Captagon-related arrests from 2022 to 2024.
Among the most vulnerable to this crisis are Iraq’sinternally displaced persons (IDPs). A 2023 study by the Iraqi Ministry ofHealth revealed that more than 40% of IDPs suffer from symptoms ofPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with children and young adults bearingthe brunt of this psychological trauma.
The loss of homes, families, and a sense of security hasleft deep emotional scars, and these wounds run through entire generations. Forthese communities, trauma is not just an individual burden but a collectiveone, one that affects the very fabric of society, leaving long-term consequencesfor Iraq’s future.
This emotional toll is only worsened by the broaderinstability within the country. Economic hardships, chronic insecurity, and thenear-collapse of the mental health infrastructure have created a perfect stormfor despair.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported thatIraq’s unemployment rate stood at 16.5% in 2024, with youth unemploymentskyrocketing to a staggering 27%. According to a 2023 World Bank report, nearly28% of Iraqis live below the poverty line, further amplifying the sense ofhopelessness that many already feel. These economic pressures, combined withongoing violence, fuel a cycle of stress and despair.
Dr. Suzan Hussein, a leading expert in Iraq’s mental healthfield, highlighted the severity of the situation stating that "prolongedexposure to war, followed by displacement and instability, creates severepsychological distress. Without adequate mental health resources, people areleft to fend for themselves", she confirmed to Shafaq News.
Despite the growing need for intervention, Iraq’s mentalhealth services remain woefully underdeveloped. With less than one psychiatristper 100,000 people, Iraq falls far behind the global average of 3.96. Even inmajor cities, psychiatric facilities are outdated and understaffed, and ruralareas often lack any mental health services at all.
This scarcity is further aggravated by the stigmasurrounding mental illness, which discourages many from seeking the help theydesperately need. A 2024 study by the Iraqi Ministry of Health found that 64%of people with PTSD symptoms avoided seeking care due to fear of societaljudgment or alienation. For those who do attempt to access treatment, delays ora lack of resources often make care unavailable.
This crisis is not only an individual tragedy but a societalone. The mental health challenges facing millions of Iraqis are eroding thevery social fabric of the country. Research from the University of Baghdad’sInstitute of Social Research underscores the far-reaching impact of thiscollective trauma, including fractured communities, widespread mistrust, and adeepening divide between different segments of society.
As Dr. Hussein explained to Shafaq News, “This trauma is notjust an individual burden; it has permeated the entire fabric of society.”Communities torn apart by sectarian violence and forced displacement are nowseeing fear and suspicion become ingrained in everyday life, makingreconciliation and unity increasingly elusive.
A 2023 survey by the National Center for PsychologicalResearch found that 68% of Iraqis believe mental health struggles have strainedtheir relationships, leading to isolation and family rifts.
With these concerned data, experts warn that if the countryfails to address its mental health crisis, it will continue to see rising ratesof self-harm, addiction, and suicide. Over the past decade, suicides in Iraqhave surged by 40%, with young men aged 18 to 30 most affected. In 2024 alone,the Ministry of Interior recorded 772 suicide cases, up from 663 the previousyear.
These are not just statistics, they represent theheart-breaking loss of human lives, victims of a system that has failed to healthe psychological wounds of war. Dr. Hussein emphasized the urgency of thesituation, noting, “Many young people, raised in an environment of war andinstability, struggle to see a way forward.” For these individuals, the futureseems too distant and too bleak to reach.
She also stressed that addressing this crisis is notoptional but essential for Iraq's recovery. "We must build accessible,culturally sensitive mental health services that prioritize the mostvulnerable. Psychological care cannot be an afterthought, it must be central toIraq’s path to healing," she confirmed.
We’re not happy
Perhaps the clearest indicator of the country’s well-beingis the World Happiness Report, a study that measures factors like income,social support, life expectancy, and freedom to gauge how satisfied people arewith their lives.
In the latest rankings, Iraq finds itself in 101st placeglobally and eighth in the Arab world, with a score of 5.166, below the globalaverage of 5.56. While the difference may seem small on paper, it reflectsdeeper challenges that contribute to a profound psychological toll on millionsof Iraqis.
To better understand the implications of this ranking, it’suseful to compare Iraq’s situation with that of its regional neighbors. ThoughIraq fares better than Iran (108th) and Jordan (125th), it is far behind morestable Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia (32nd) and the UAE (21st). Thesecountries, with their booming economies and relatively secure politicalenvironments, offer their citizens a higher sense of well-being. This starkcontrast highlights how Iraq’s ongoing turmoil, fuelled by economic hardshipsand insecurity, affects not only day-to-day life but also the long-term hopesand aspirations of its people.
Researcher and academic Abdul Sattar Jabar, who has spentyears working in conflict zones, offers his perspective on the psychologicalimpact of prolonged instability. “When people are trapped in a cycle ofeconomic hardship and constant insecurity, their mental well-being inevitablybegins to unravel,” he noted. “A collective sense of hopelessness sets in.”
This sense of despair, he explained, is not just a reactionto daily struggles; it’s the product of living with constant uncertainty and afuture that feels increasingly out of reach.
“It’s the fear of what comes next that wears people down,”he added in comments to Shafaq News. “And over time, that fear becomes embeddedin the national psyche, making recovery all the more difficult.”
No Alternative But to Improve
While infrastructure repair is vital, experts argue that thedeeper wounds, the invisible ones left on the minds of its people, demand justas much attention.
At the forefront of this movement is Professor MohammedJassim Al-Obeidi from the University of Al-Mustansiriyah. A vocal advocate formental health reform, Al-Obeidi believes that no reconstruction plan cansucceed without simultaneously tending to the psychological scars left bydecades of war. “Iraq’s recovery cannot be fully realized without a significantfocus on mental health,” he explains.
“The psychological scars of war affect every aspect of life,social, economic, and political.” For him, rebuilding institutions is only halfthe battle; the other half lies in restoring social cohesion and collectiveresilience, an effort that begins with healing minds.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also urged Iraq tointegrate mental health into its primary care services, especially in regionsrecovering from violence. Experts argue that this integration is not justbeneficial, it’s essential.
Community-based mental health programs can help rebuildtrust, encourage dialogue, and foster a sense of belonging in places wheredivision has taken root. It’s not only about treating trauma on an individuallevel; it’s about rebuilding the emotional fabric of entire communities.
Amid these challenges, however, signs of hope are beginningto surface. A new generation of Iraqis, many of whom were born after 2003, isbeginning to push for change. They’re more outspoken, more connected, and morewilling to challenge the old taboos that have long surrounded mental health.
This shift in mindset is already being met with support fromlocal and international NGOs, which have started launching awareness campaignsand grassroots initiatives aimed at expanding access to psychological care.
Still, the road ahead remains steep. Dr. Hussein emphasizedthat genuine healing takes time. “This kind of trauma isn’t something a nationrecovers from overnight,” she explained. “Iraq needs systemic reform, not justin healthcare but in governance, infrastructure, and education. Until thoselayers are addressed together, progress will be slow.” She pointed to Iraq’spersistently low ranking on the global Happiness Index as a reflection ofunresolved trauma and systemic neglect.
Yet for many Iraqis, the pursuit of happiness transcendseconomic data or political benchmarks. It’s about restoring a sense of dignityand belief in a future that doesn’t feel shaped by loss. It’s about walkinginto a clinic without fear or shame. It’s about knowing that the pain of thepast doesn’t have to define the next generation.