By Ahmad Hassan
Iraqi Journalist and Writer based in Baghdad.

Children and Psychiatric Disorders

Statistics collected by psychiatric health departments show that the percentage of psychiatric illness is on the rise among Iraqi individuals. It is estimated that cases have tripled among adults while multiplying tenfold among children. Accounting for such a rise are the security pressures and violent acts which the Iraqi society suffers from at all levels. These factors have left their negative residues on the psyche of the people, with constant images of death and spillage of blood distorting their aspirations and hopes for the future.

Abbas Al-Asady, psychiatrist at Al-Rashad Hospital, said that "the percentage of people suffering psychic disease in Iraqi society is now 30 percent of the population. This is according to WHO estimations. No doubt, these mounting figures call on us as professionals to intensify efforts to help Iraqi individuals psychologically and alleviate psychological impacts that the consecutive wars and unstable conditions have had on them."

Children, Violence and Depression

Riyadh Al-Bashir, psychiatrist at Al-Jumlah Al-Asabiyyah Hospital, says, "With wars, crises, and deteriorating conditions there are many losses in lives which leaves
negative marks on the psyche of the greater part of society in general and children in particular. As the occupation continues violence breeds violence. We found that violence itself is an acquired behavior. The loss of family members, loved ones, or friends due to the military operations of coalition forces generates aggressive reactions towards others. The legacy of aggression, violence, and destruction left by the policies of the previous regime have influenced many people. Such influences still reside in the psyche of people within society, and they are not easy to get rid of except after a long period of time."

Al-Bashir refers to "depression being the most prevalent psychiatric illness. It arises from the loss of control over the space where one lives. In the depressive type, violent scenes play a major role. For example when a missile is dropped on a building or a bomb explodes in a place, whether the tactic was destructive or not, what matters is the horror that prevails, with the greatest impact occurring among children. Depression among children takes the form of physical symptoms that result from witnessing violent acts, killing, destruction, and the series of kidnappings, and slaughter that are broadcast on many available media that are real scenes on the streets. These symptoms include cases of panic attacks during sleep, involuntary urination, gastric pains, and reluctance to go to school. The last is the most dangerous symptom. In addition, there are signs of aggression in the overall behavior."

Treatment

Treatment can take two courses, adds Al-Bashir: psychological or behavioral therapy or drug therapy. According to him, the first is the best, even if medications are available, although they provide good psychological motivation and fast positive reaction in controlling the illness when the symptoms reach the peak of deterioration and consciousness. When patients reach a state of relaxation, they are able to accept behavioral therapy. Efforts can be made, he says, by showing positive, constructive cultural awareness programs through some media channels.

I headed to the cultural institution concerned with children where Shafiq Al-Mahdi, general manager of the Child Cultural Development Department, spoke about the role that these institutions play in alleviating the psychological burden of children in our present time. Providing details, he says that "after rehabilitating this institution in cooperation with Mufeed Al-Jazairy, former minister of culture, we contacted a large group of humanitarian organizations which showed willingness to cooperate with us. They provided us with suitable furniture, computers, and other equipment as well as films for children. With the help of UNICEF, we established a studio especially for child programs. Following this, we started many courses teaching computer skills to different age groups and general awareness bulletins. El-Fanous Es-Sehry (the Magic Lantern) theater was inaugurated together with the related movie theater. Many primary- and preparatory-school students attended special shows there, and efforts still continue to ease the effect of the tragedy of children and take them back to their normal place among the children of the world."

Odd Educational Sector

Beside all of these factors, the social circumstances have produced an odd educational category. It is needless to explain the vital effect teachers have on children. The teachers are the basis of society. If the character of a teacher working at kindergarten and primary stages needs repair, then what about the child?

One father described the way in which the teacher handles his son, Akram Salman, as feeble on all educational and ethical levels. Although his son is in his second preparatory year, according to the father, when he asks Akram what they studied during the day, he answers that the teacher asked them what they heard on the streets about cases of kidnap and murder, and about what problems happen at their homes, and the sect to which each child belongs. Akram's father confirms that "most teachers now need rehabilitation from all sides to become educators, not destructors, of generations."

A mother whose son Ahmed Basem is in the fifth preparatory year complained that her son is absent from school on many days. On asking him, he tells her that the school administration told them to go home. When she went to the school to inquire about this, the headmaster's assistant replied, "We informed students that school day will start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 11:30 a.m. When a teacher is absent, their class students have to leave school because of the deficit in educational cadres. In case of any explosion ? close or far ? we hurry to evacuate the building of students."

As a result, the number of students playing truant from school and neglecting studies ? with or without the knowledge of the family ?has increased. This has opened a chasm for psychological and social deviation in children and has led them to take refuge, willingly or not, in corrupt circles of society ? gangs, thieves, and drug dealers ? and to fall as an easy prey in their hands. Increased exposure to and involvement in violence are inevitable consequences of circumstances which became clearer after the occupation, bringing Iraqi children directly in touch with violence through the military conflict or indirectly through the gangs of robbery, looting, and drugs.

Such situations gave birth to the phenomenon of street children, which is now the most important way in which children come into friction with violence ? directly or indirectly. Being on the streets, children face violence in part from their family. In torn families of poor economic levels and humble cultural or social levels, violent treatment is usual. Some of the members may even have behavioral deviations, all of which lead to the children escaping to the street.

These different gangs use children as a tool for their criminal purposes. Not to mention that through working with such gangs, children face physical and sexual abuse and enter a whirlpool of drug addiction and solution sniffing, leading to another circle of struggle with violence.