Challenges of Supporting Women’s Mental Health in Yemen

Yasmine Abdulhafeez – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

For decades, Yemeni women have faced significant psychological challenges, which have been greatly exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the country for the past ten years. Yemeni women are among the most affected by this conflict, as they are subjected to various forms of violence, including displacement, killing, and kidnapping. They also face the loss of basic resources, the deterioration of the economic situation of many families, rising prices, lack of job opportunities, destruction of public and private institutions, and other woes that have left a psychological impact on women in Yemen, according to UN reports.

Adding to this suffering is the societal stigma attached to women who suffer from mental illness, especially with the lack of attention paid by many families to the mental health of girls, which is often not considered as important as their physical health. This hinders their access to necessary support and care. Furthermore, the scarcity of specialized facilities providing psychological support and the shortage of qualified personnel exacerbate the difficulty for women to receive treatment.

Amidst these harsh circumstances, a glimmer of hope has emerged in recent years with the spread of private mental health centers in major city centers. These centers provide therapeutic and counseling services to citizens, including women, contributing to alleviating their suffering and improving their mental health.

Mental Health and Women

Manal Taha, who holds a Master’s degree in Psychology, explains: “Often, attention to mental health is linked to the treatment of mental illnesses, while mental health is a state of psychological well-being that enables individuals to cope with life’s pressures and achieve their learning and work goals effectively.”

She emphasizes that a woman who does not suffer from symptoms of mental illness may not enjoy good mental health and may be unable to achieve her goals, lack plans, be unable to learn, and not be able to work effectively. Good mental health requires more than just the absence of illness; it also requires the ability to cope with life’s pressures.

She believes that prioritizing women’s mental health achieves emotional and mental balance because it contributes to establishing an effective and strong society. A woman with good mental health becomes self-reliant and capable of making her own decisions, which enhances her confidence and improves her sense of self-worth.

She adds: “Good mental health in women contributes to developing their ability to care for and nurture their families better, as well as build themselves. They can set plans, solve problems, and play a pivotal role in building society. Women are mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters of the house; they are half of society, which is indispensable. Therefore, women’s mental health is a cornerstone of the health of society as a whole.”

She pointed out that conflicts cast a dark shadow on all segments of society, and women are no exception, as they are among the groups most affected by these crises. In addition to the psychological and physical suffering they endure, women face enormous economic and social challenges during conflicts that hinder their ability to live with dignity. They are forced to take risky paths to provide a decent life for themselves and their families and are vulnerable to exploitation, whether physical, economic, psychological, or otherwise.

She continues: “The deterioration of the economic situation during crises and conflicts harms women’s well-being and deprives them of their right to a decent life. Many families are forced to make difficult decisions, such as marrying off their daughters at an early age to help support the rest of the family.”

She emphasizes that the deterioration of mental health in Yemen is at its highest levels due to the decline in living and economic standards and the deterioration of security conditions. In the shadow of conflicts and natural disasters, Yemeni women face enormous psychological challenges, including displacement, violence, and are prone to psychological disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder or suicidal thoughts. They also face more severe challenges, such as depression and anxiety, which are more prevalent among women than men.

She concludes by saying: “It is imperative to pay attention to women’s mental health because its deterioration leads to sleep disturbances, insomnia, fatigue, and infectious diseases as a result of weakened immunity.”

The Psychological Impact of Conflict on Women

Shaima Al-Izz believes that the conflict in Yemen has significantly impacted women in economic, social, and security aspects. She says: “Regarding the economic aspect, unemployment and poverty rates among women have increased due to the deteriorating economic conditions and the difficulty for women to access job opportunities and economic resources. This is a result of the lack of security, restrictions on movement, and a decrease in their purchasing power, which has affected their ability to provide basic needs for themselves and their families. Additionally, there is an increased reliance on humanitarian aid provided by organizations.”

Al-Izz believes that the deteriorating security situation increases the risks of all forms of violence against women in the absence of security and the difficulty for women to access healthcare, education, and other services due to insecurity. There is also a high rate of displacement and homelessness among women due to the destruction caused by the conflict, as well as their exposure to trafficking and exploitation.

Most Affected Are Displaced Women

In this regard, Muhammad Radman, General Coordinator of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Al-Ma’afir, Al-Shamaiteen, and Jabal Habashi camps in Taiz Governorate, says: “Displaced women face significant psychological distress. They shoulder many responsibilities due to the burdens of displacement and moving from one area to another, which may not be suitable for them. They also do not receive the required psychological and humanitarian support.”

He adds: “Displaced women bear more than 70% of the suffering and living conditions due to the loss of the breadwinner as a result of the conflict, or the loss of his work and job, and the interruption of his salary. This has exacerbated the tragic situation that women are experiencing, especially since they are unable to provide the minimum requirements of life for themselves and their families.”

He pointed out that displacement conditions have significantly impacted women’s psyche, increasing the proportion of those exposed to severe psychological trauma and a significant deterioration in their health and psychological state. Many even wish for any work, no matter how arduous, to support their families, even if only slightly.

He continues: “The situation has reached the point where many of them are asking for divorce and prefer to return to their guardians to get rid of the responsibility and burdens they bear with their husbands. Also, some are forced to resort to begging.”

Women Abused Due to Customs and Traditions

Manal Ahmad (pseudonym), like many rural girls, aspired to travel to the city, attend university, and choose her desired specialization. However, customs and traditions, which dictate that a girl’s education is not as important as a boy’s, prevented her from achieving her dream.

Manal tells Sawt Al-Amal newspaper: “I aspired to specialize in dentistry and open a clinic in my village. However, the lack of a college teaching this specialization near my area and my family’s refusal to let me live far from them made me lose hope. I became convinced that my attempts would fail, so I erased the idea of studying from my mind.”

She sadly says: “Many years have passed since my dream. I got married, had children, and became preoccupied with raising them. However, I still feel frustrated and hopeless because I couldn’t be what I wanted, and I didn’t succeed in living the way I planned. I feel a sense of oppression whenever I see a girl who wants to learn and finds all the paths leading to her goal riddled with obstacles and difficulties.”

She indicated that she felt like crying for a long time and would go to a place far from other women to talk to herself and lament her fate, which made her an ambitious girl in a society that does not believe in girls’ ambitions and believes that their place is in marriage, raising children, and staying at home.

Most Common Disorders Among Women

Psychologist Shaima Al-Izz says: “There are some psychological disorders that women suffer from more than men, most notably post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of violence and sexual assault, in addition to depression and anxiety. This is due to social, economic, and security pressures, as women are forced to bear additional burdens of caring for the family, which affects their mental health.”

She adds: “There are disorders related to pregnancy and childbirth, especially with the collapse of health services, unhealthy nutrition, and high rates of cesarean sections and miscarriages.”

Programs to Enhance Women’s Mental Health

Psychologist Firdaus Al-Rabasi says: “We must identify women’s weaknesses and strengths and then work on enhancing their strengths and how to accept themselves. When the standard of living deteriorates, women begin to feel frustrated, hopeless, and unable to produce and achieve. They feel unable to change themselves, their families, or their surroundings.”

She continues: “This is when we start to clarify to women the importance of their rights and change their self-perception. Then, we focus on their strengths and work on enhancing them through economic empowerment based on their inclinations and directions. Each woman chooses what suits her capabilities, leading to positive impacts on their psychological and social realities. As they feel accomplished, they develop a sense of satisfaction and positivity, driving further progress, development, and creativity.”

She highlighted the importance of equipping women with skills to cope with pressures and providing them with insights on self-care and finding happiness through various available means and methods. This empowers them to strike a balance in their lives, coordinating their psychological, familial, financial, economic, health, and physical needs.

She adds: “The most crucial thing a woman needs is to have her basic needs met. Otherwise, she gets caught in a whirlwind of anxiety, despair, and frustration, negatively impacting her children and leading to abuse. This, in turn, has adverse effects on the children, pushing them onto the streets, causing some to drop out of school, and neglecting their hygiene, as the mother vents her negativity onto them.”

Yemeni women face immense challenges in various aspects of their lives, ranging from internal psychological conflicts to difficult economic and security conditions. However, despite these challenges, many women emphasize their ability to overcome these difficulties and rise again. Studies indicate that when Yemeni women manage to overcome their internal and external struggles, they positively impact their surroundings and families.

By improving their mental health, women become more capable of caring for their families, providing for their needs, and achieving balance in their lives. Strong and independent women also build a thriving society by fostering cooperation and solidarity among community members. Therefore, many institutions exert significant efforts to empower and support Yemeni women. These efforts include training and awareness programs, in addition to providing job opportunities, financial support, and access to essential resources. Thanks to these endeavors, many women have been able to establish their own businesses, provide job opportunities for other women, and achieve success in various fields.