The Hidden Costs of the 2014 Gaza – Israeli Conflicts – Adolescent Girls’ Psycho- Social Wellbeing

The research focuses and is part of a broader project supported by the ReBUILD Consortium, which is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), to look at the linkages between mental health/psycho-social wellbeing and gendered socio-cultural norms in post-conflict settings in Gaza, Liberia and Sri Lanka. Psycho-social and mental health services that are appropriately designed and resourced can alleviate the effects of war and conflict and respond to the needs of the affected population, helping people to return to normal life. However, when developing post-conflict psycho-social responses, it is crucial to understand not only existing support service infrastructure and gaps, but also local cultural norms and practices underpinning demand and the likelihood of service uptake. The Overseas Development Institute (ODI), together with local experts, undertook an in-depth qualitative research assessment of the experiences of adolescent girls and their families in the immediate post-conflict context in Gaza. This considered the effects on their psycho-social wellbeing, the coping strategies at their disposal and the extent to which existing support services were adequately informed by context specific gendered norms and practices.