More than half of the adult population in the West Bank and Gaza screen positive for depression. In Gaza specifically, the rate climbs to 71%.
This is shown in the new report Mental Health in the West Bank and Gaza – a joint effort by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), the World Bank, ISDC, and Zentrum Überleben.
Key findings
The new study is based on the analysis of a nationally representative survey of 5,876 individuals and presents four key findings:
- The prevalence of mental health problems in the West Bank and Gaza is very high.
- Many mental health issues vary systematically across areas and socio-economic characteristics.
- Poor mental health is closely linked with worse economic outcomes.
- Poor mental health is strongly associated with exposure to violent conflict and traumatic events.