This webinar “Wars in the 21st Century: Mental Health Impacts, Intervention Strategies, and the Cost to Our Humanity” explores the impact of contemporary conflicts on mental health, whether experienced directly, indirectly, or through exposure to differing perspectives within conflict settings. The webinar lasts for 3 hours.

The first two session featured four representatives from two conflict-affected regions, Sudan and Gaza, who shared their personal and professional experiences. The representatives from Sudan were Dr Sulaima Elkahlifa and Dr Sadeia Hamid talking over the theme “We are still Humans: Mental Health, Survival, and Hope in the Sudan war “. The representatives from the war in Gaza was Dr Mohammed Abumughaiseeb who talked about the “Continuous Traumatic Stress in Gaza: When Caregivers and Communities Share the Same Crisis” and Dr Ruth-Kari Ramleth and Dr Pete McGovern talking about “Helping the helpers”.

The third session facilitated discussion among the first four speakers focusing on reflections of what has worked on existing guidelines and resources for mental health professionals in conflict areas and asked what new recommendations can be put forward. The discussion was guided by Dr Nikos Christdodoulou chair of WPA Disaster Psychiatry Section and Dr Rodrigo Ramalho representing ACRE.

The webinar ended with reflections around “What are the wars doing to us all?” and was facilitated by former WPA president Dr Denish Bhugra and Dr Rabih Chammay from National Mental Health Program (NMHP)in Lebanon.

The goal of the seminar was not only to bear witness but to help to build conditions in which people can remain human and get support in the ongoing wars.

While this webinar presents perspectives from one side of the conflict, this does not diminish the mental health impact experienced on the other side. We believe that listening to these testimonies is important for deepening our understanding and for shaping a more thoughtful shared future.

This webinar was initiated by two psychiatrists; one from Lebanon Dr Josyan Madi-Skaff and Dr Ann Faerden from Norway. The full program was developed in close collaboration with the WPA Secretary for Scientific Sections – Armen Soghoyan and the Secretary for Education and Scientific Publications – Norbert Skokauskas.