Mental health consequences in populations exposed to war and violence: A global health crisis

 Corresponding author: Ahmed Yassin Omer Ahmed Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0. Mental health consequences in populations exposed to war and violence: A global health crisis Ahmed Yassin Omer Ahmed 1, *, Hisham Elrasheed Khider 2 and Radwan Albarbandi 3 1 Newington Centre, Hull, United Kingdom. 2 Glengowrie Medical complex, Adelaide, Australia. 3 Unihealth clinic, Adelaide, Australia. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 27(02), 1368-1371 Publication history: Received on 10 July 2025; revised on 17 August 2025; accepted on 19 August 2025 Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2025.27.2.2983 Abstract War conflicts and violence zones inflict devastating physical, social, and psychological consequences on affected populations. This paper explores the mental health impacts on civilians and combatants exposed to armed conflict, forced displacement, and chronic violence. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and substance abuse are highly prevalent in these environments. Vulnerable populations, including children, women, and the elderly, face elevated risks. Limited access to mental health services exacerbates suffering, particularly in low-resource settings. Evidence-based interventions—ranging from trauma-informed care to community-based psychosocial support—are urgently needed to address this growing crisis. International collaboration is essential to scale mental health services in conflict-affected areas and integrate mental health into emergency response frameworks. Keywords: Depression; PTSD; Conflicts. Mental Health; Trauma 1. Introduction Armed conflicts and prolonged violence have escalated globally, resulting in significant humanitarian crises. Beyond the visible toll of injury and displacement, war zones produce profound mental health consequences that are often underrecognized and undertreated. This paper aims to examine the psychological burden of war on affected individuals and communities, identify key risk factors, and explore scalable solutions for mental health care delivery in conflict settings. 2. Materials and method This paper is a narrative review of peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, and reports from international organizations addressing mental health in conflict settings. Sources were identified through PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and grey literature from WHO and UNHCR, using terms such as war, conflict, PTSD, depression, and trauma. Findings were synthesized thematically to highlight prevalence, risk factors, service gaps, and intervention strategies. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 27(02), 1368-1371 1369 3. Results and discussion 3.1. Prevalence Table 1 Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders in Conflict-Affected Populations: [1,2,3] Disorder Estimated Prevalence Notes PTSD 15–30% Higher among individuals with direct exposure to violence. Depression 20–40% Common in both civilians and displaced persons. Generalized Anxiety Disorder 10–30% Often co-occurs with PTSD or depression. Substance Use Disorders 5–20% Frequently underreported; more prevalent in protracted conflict zones. Suicidal Ideation 10–15% Elevated in youth and survivors of sexual or gender-based violence. Figure 1 Estimated prevalence of mental disorders in conflict affected populations Children and adolescents, who comprise a significant proportion of refugee and displaced populations, show higher rates of developmental delays, behavioural problems, and suicidal ideation. [4] 3.2. Risk Factors for Psychological Distress Key factors contributing to poor mental health outcomes in war zones include: • Direct exposure to violence: Torture, sexual violence, loss of loved ones, and witnessing atrocities. [4] • Displacement and refugee status: Forced migration disrupts social networks and access to care. • Poverty and food insecurity: Increase emotional distress and decrease coping capacity. • Lack of access to health services: Infrastructural collapse limits treatment availability. Women and girls face unique risks due to increased gender-based violence, while older adults may suffer compounded trauma from war layered onto existing vulnerabilities. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2025, 27(02), 1368-1371 1370 3.3. Case Studies and Regional Perspectives • Syria: Ongoing conflict since 2011 has left millions with untreated psychological trauma. Humanitarian mental health services are fragmented. [5] • Ukraine: The war has led to a surge in PTSD and depressive disorders, with infrastructure for mental health support overwhelmed. [6] • Democratic Republic of Congo: Protracted conflict and sexual violence have created chronic trauma exposure with minimal psychiatric resources available. [7] • Sudan: The ongoing war resulted in medical infrastructure destruction, shortage of trained professionals and widespread mental disorders to add to the already stigma that enshrouds mental illness. [8]. 3.4. Gaps in Mental Health Services In most conflict-affected regions: • Mental health care is not integrated into primary health systems. • Shortage of trained professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers). • Stigma limits help-seeking behaviour. • Emergency responses often overlook mental health needs. 3.5. Intervention Strategies Table 2 Evidence-Based Interventions for Conflict-Affected Mental Health[9, 10] Intervention Target Group Delivery Method Effectiveness Psychological First Aid (PFA) General population Trained community workers Reduces acute distress Trauma-Focused CBT Adults/Children Individual or group therapy High for PTSD Group Interpersonal Therapy (IPTG) Adults Group sessions Moderate to high depression mhGAP-HIG[11] All ages Primary health care workers Scalable and adaptable Peer-led Support Programs Refugees/IDPs Trained lay counsellors Cost-effective, scalable 3.6. Recommendations and Future Directions • Integrate mental health into humanitarian aid protocols. • Train non-specialists using WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). • Culturally adapt interventions to local populations. • Strengthen research on long-term outcomes and effectiveness of scalable models. • Address structural factors—poverty, displacement, and discrimination—that compound mental health risks. 4. Conclusion The psychological impact of war and violence is a public health emergency. Mental health must be viewed as an essential component of humanitarian and post-conflict recovery efforts. Global and local stakeholders must invest in evidencebased, culturally sensitive, and scalable solutions to reduce the mental health burden in war-affected populations. Compliance with ethical standards Disclosure of conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. 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