Many Gaza Children Lived with Depression and Fear in 2022

Save the Children, an international organization focused on children's rights, surveyed the perceptions of children in Gaza, Palestine, regarding their experiences in 2022. Across five surveyed conditions—depression, fear, and anxiety among others—all showed significant increases compared to 2018 research.

77% of children reported feeling sad and depressed, up from 62% in 2018.

78% of children experienced feelings of grief in 2022, an increase from 55% in 2018.

Fear was reported by a significantly higher percentage, 84% in 2022, compared to 50% in 2018.

81% of Palestinian children reported feeling tense, up from 58% in 2018.

Finally, 80% of Palestinian children felt anxious, a sharp increase from 55% in 2018.

Save the Children stated that this continuous research finds that living for 15 years under severe instability and uncertainty continues to have a serious and detrimental impact on the mental and physical health of children and adolescents in Gaza.

"More children and adolescents reported frequently or constantly feeling sad, anxious, afraid, and experiencing physical symptoms of emotional stress," wrote the research team in their report titled "Trapped: The impact of 15 years of blockade on the mental health of Gaza’s children," published in June 2022.

The research team explained that the experiences reported by children are believed to occur within the context of prolonged exposure to traumatic stress. This is exacerbated by the lack of available social support or being overwhelmed by the distress experienced by the children, which also impacts their well-being.

The research team noted that the long-term consequences of exposure to traumatic stress include physical and mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and impaired immune function.

"Acute stress weakens brain development, which can also affect a child's ability to learn, develop, learn productively, and build and maintain healthy relationships," the research team stated.

Quantitative research was conducted from March to April 2022 and reinforced by qualitative research.

560 child well-being or psychosocial questionnaires were completed by children, adolescents, and caregivers in five areas: North Gaza, Gaza City, Central Gaza, Khan Yunis, and Rafah. The sample was randomly selected among children and their caregivers living in urban, rural, refugee, and restricted-access areas.

The quantitative survey involved 400 children aged 12–17 years (48% female, 52% male). The survey also targeted 160 parents and caregivers (50% female, 50% male).

The 2018 quantitative research involved 300 children in Gaza.

For the 2022 qualitative research, 12 interviews were conducted with eight children and four caregivers. There were also 10 focus group discussions (FGDs) with 80 children aged 12–17 (40% female).

Interviews were conducted with ten key informants, including specialists in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), and relevant civil society and international organizations working in the field.