By Sophie Wagner and Robert T. Muller, Ph.D.
According to the Geneva Academy, there are more than 114 ongoing armed conflicts across the globe. Many associate armed conflict with physical danger and death, but the impact on civilians’ mental health is an overlooked crisis.
This involves more than the traumas they are already facing, such as bombings and malnutrition, but also anxieties about things they might face—like family death, injury, or becoming disabled. These anxieties are especially dangerous, as they can persist across one’s lifetime.
The experience of war can result in a multitude of mental health diagnoses, the most common being post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. PTSD can develop after witnessing or experiencing a trauma related to a threat of death or injury.
Those with PTSD often relive the traumatic event through nightmares or flashbacks, constantly feel like they are in danger, and engage in destructive behavior. Although exposure to trauma does not guarantee the development of PTSD, citizens in war zones consistently develop it.
A 2025 study looked at PTSD rates among Palestinian civilians one year into the conflict with Israel. They found that of the 405 people surveyed, 85 percent met the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. Additionally, 72.7 percent met the criteria for depression and 65 percent for severe anxiety. Similarly, a 2024 study found that 1 out of 6 civilians in Ukraine met the criteria for PTSD, and 88 percent reported poor sleep quality. The latter is attributed to frequent drone and rocket attacks that occur at night, forcing civilians to retreat into bomb shelters. PTSD and sleep disturbances are closely connected. Nightmares and PTSD symptoms can interfere with restful sleep, impacting mood stability and the ability to recover the next day.
Children experiencing armed conflict can develop mental health and developmental issues. They are more likely to develop behavioral issues such as increased anger, irritability, and difficulty maintaining social relationships. In Syria, years of ongoing conflict have had significant effects on children’s psychological well-being. Research involving 492 Syrian children found that 60 percent showed symptoms of at least one probable psychological disorder, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being the most common, followed by depression and anxiety.
Genocide can lead to intergenerational trauma, where the effects of trauma and ways survivors cope are passed down to future generations. This has been observed in families who survived Holodomor, the Holocaust, and in many other populations. Therefore, we must consider how future generations in places that are currently declared to be in the midst of a genocide, such as Palestine, will be affected.
Gazan doctors, in particular, struggle with mental illness as they often have to choose between mourning their own losses or caring for the wounded. Suppressing one’s personal suffering while treating others is a unique psychological burden that doctors report having.
In times of war, communities find new coping mechanisms, highlighting their resilience. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip gather over a shared meal, splitting their resources and telling stories, instilling hope. When a family loses their home, each neighbor offers whatever they can to the family in need: childcare, food, and household items.
Similarly, as schools have converted into overcrowded shelters, volunteer teachers will teach children math and writing skills. Civilians have also found strength in spiritual practices, using them to reframe their suffering as meaningful within the divine plan or as part of a divine test.
While these coping mechanisms are helpful, many do not address the long-term mental health effects that survivors experience. Currently, the focus of international aid is on food and medical care. However, it is crucial that we also address the mental health crisis faced by civilians to ensure that not only their futures are bright, but also those of their future families.
Sophie Wagner is a research student at York University.