RAMALLAH, The World Bank and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said yesterday that the results of the Psychological Conditions Survey in Palestine for the year 2022 showed that more than half of the Palestinian society suffers from depression (71% in the Gaza Strip and 50% in the West Bank), and 58% of them are over 18 years old, while levels of depression were similar between women and men.

This came during a workshop organized by the World Bank and the PCBS in Ramallah to announce the results of the survey and attended by representatives of ministries, research institutions, universities, federations, international organizations and United Nations institutions.

The survey, prepared after the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip in May 2021, included three indicators: depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a common mental health disorder.

The results also showed that 7% of adults suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and the symptoms are higher in Gaza than in the West Bank, as well as for men who have more severe symptoms than women since they are more exposed to events and trauma.

Regarding common mental health disorders, the results showed that there is a direct relationship between extreme poverty and mental health disorders, as the percentage of people who are at the level of extreme poverty reached 50%, and those who are below the line reached 70%. Those who work longer hours are also exposed to this disease.

Mental health stress becomes worse when exposed to a traumatic accident such as the 2021 Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. The results of those surveyed in Gaza found out that 10% of people had lost a family member or a friend, another 10% were injured, and 25% had their house destroyed or damaged.

Source: Palestine News & Info Agency