Studies: A lost generation and depressed .. The legacy of wars for the Arab youth

Shady Abdel Hafez

"A new generation is lost in the Arab world," said a group of 15 research papers and three editorial articles from the Middle East Institute of the Institute for Measuring and Evaluating Health in Washington.

The initiative, led by Dr. Ali Mekdad of the University of Washington, is trying to investigate recent developments in the Arab world in terms of health, finding that although the violence has contributed to a large number of deaths year after year (200,000 in 2015 only) We need to look at another more serious problem. "

In addition to the deaths of violence and war in the region, there has been a catastrophic increase in the rate of mental disorders in the past 25 years. Depression and anxiety are the most common mental disorders among citizens of the Middle East, with other diseases such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

According to the study published in the International Journal of Public Health, the biggest problem for mental illness is the low number of doctors for the number of citizens. In countries such as Libya, Sudan and Yemen, there were about half a psychiatrist per 100,000 people, while in European countries there were about 40.

One of the most important and most compelling findings of the study is the 100% increase in suicide in 25 years. In 2015 alone, nearly 30,000 people committed suicide in the Middle East, up from half of the 1990s.

On the other hand, the incidence of chronic diseases is not better, as the rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes rates increased by more than 100% in a short period, with high rates of infection at a young age, commensurate with the increase in the proportion of tobacco use and increase body weight Over an unhealthy teen diet.

Political volatility is causing a deterioration in the sense of security among the citizens of the region, and with the economic failures of the political unrest, it is expected that this will affect the psychological condition of citizens.

Therefore, this group of studies indicates an acute danger to young people in the Arab region, especially with other harsh conditions including a decline in freshwater rates and a rise in the severity of global warming, which affects the Arab region more strongly than any other region.

The researchers hope that the disastrous results will be a red signal to alert leaders and politicians in the region to make decisive decisions to overcome those crises associated with wars and political unrest.