Brief
War Exacerbates Mental Health Crisis for Children with Disabilities
HRW says children with intellectual disabilities face heightened trauma and exclusion from mental‑health services in war zones.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Human Rights Watch reports that armed conflicts intensify mental‑health harms for children with intellectual disabilities, noting that over a fifth of conflict‑affected populations experience conditions such as PTSD, depression or anxiety.
The organisation cites a Syrian father who described his 13‑year‑old son’s withdrawal and fear after years of war, and points to similar exclusion in Gaza and Sudan, where communication barriers prevent access to humanitarian mental‑health aid.
HRW urges governments to integrate disability‑inclusive psychological support into conflict response and recovery, and calls on aid agencies to use accessible tools such as pictograms, play therapy, weighted lap pads and noise‑cancelling headphones.
Key facts
- Over 20% of conflict‑affected populations are estimated to suffer mental‑health conditions. (hrw.org)
- A Syrian father described his intellectually disabled son becoming withdrawn and fearful during war. (hrw.org)
- HRW recommends disability‑inclusive mental‑health measures such as pictograms, play therapy, weighted lap pads and noise‑cancelling headphones. (hrw.org)
Sources
- [1] hrw.org — originally reported as “War’s Hidden Mental Health Toll on Children with Disabilities”
