Help Survivors of Trauma and Violence in Mosul

Mosul Donor Report

June 2021

Mîran* from Mosul

Mîran* was born in 1980 and she has four children. Never continuing past her elementary level education Mîran was forced to marry at the age of 15 and resign herself to being a housewife. During her marriage, her newborn died shortly after birth and her marriage ended in divorce. Two years later Mîran remarried. She had three daughters and one son who suffers from a cleft upper-lip and a hole in the roof of his mouth which requires surgery. The stigma of her son’s condition means her daughters are refused marriage and thus remain her economic responsibility.

During ISIS occupation her house was bombed, turned partially to rubble. Mîran witnessed the death of many family members, their corpses laying in her home. It’s the same home she currently lives in, and so she is often reminded of this horror. Today due in part to her low formal education, diagnosed depression, and difficult circumstances Mîran cannot provide for her family. Her husband largely ignores familial responsibilities, and their relationship suffers. Mîran’s fear for her childrens’ future and inability to secure necessities had driven Mara to attempted suicide.

Since April 2021 Mîran has received seven treatment sessions, psychological education on depression, and writing exercises to understand, analyze, and sometimes challenge her ideas and emotions. Her mood has slowly improved but Mîran requires continued treatment sessions to build self-confidence and begin addressing external factors contributing to her condition.

Mîran* represents many residents of Mosul who come to receive psychological treatment. Most of the women in these situations suffer from domestic violence. Due to various circumstances including war, economic instability, and a lack of education it is common in these situations for the male head of house to neglect and not recognize any responsibility caring for their family. This places unreasonable expectations on the female heads of household and often leads to stress, depression, and feelings of hopelessness.

Three months at-a-glance

• Received and treated more than 820 patient cases in the center.
• Hosted 20 sessions of the Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence Program.
• Hosted 11 sessions of the human rights education program in local schools.
• Hosted 7 external seminars.
• During these past three months our staff have received two parts of their ongoing training in Psychotraumatology.

Human rights education & dialogue

Our treatment center in Mosul hosts local human rights education courses and interfaith dialogue and coexistence events. Each month our Mosul center hold four human rights courses for children in local schools and orphanages. The courses are directed for children from 8 – 16 years old and seek to provide a general understanding of their individual rights, recognize possible abuses, and direct them to seek safe avenues of addressing any violations.

This month our treatment center in Mosul realized its goal by hosting 117 local participants in its interfaith dialogue and coexistence events. Part and parcel with human rights education and mental health treatment, dialogue and interfaith communication is essential for the long-term stability of Mosul’s diverse population.

Capacity building

One of the best uses of our resources is investing in our staff. Each month the treatment center in Mosul hosts 12 – 20 training courses for our staff. This June our staff took part in Psychotraumatology, social work, collective and individual supervision trainings. The majority of our staff participated in these capacity building trainings.

The branch library still needs books

The library in Mosul is a multi-purpose room but lacks sufficient reading material. With only 60 books, it is hardly a library. Staff has requested on Mental Health, treatment methods and medical reference. We also require children’s books and young adult novels for patients. For direct donations of books and reading material please email info@jiyan-foundation.org

Fortunately, there is more than one way to help.

Share this project with friends and family, and let them know why the treatment center for survivors of violence and trauma in Mosul is worth supporting. With so many good causes out there, word of mouth is perhaps the most valuable tool at our disposal.

*Names of beneficiaries are changed to respect privacy and ensure safety.

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Donor Report Mosul

02/26/2021

Welcoming new multicultural staff in Mosul

To better serve our patients from the Yazidi faith, our treatment center in Mosul has hired two new psychotherapists and a receptionist from the Yazidi religion. These additional staff have had an enormous impact on the branch making it one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse institutions in the city.

The diversity in the center had prompted patients and staff alike to continuously engage with one another on their cultures and languages. Our center manager has said it is a very happy situation for everyone.

Monthly cases

Since October, our treatment center in Mosul has serviced 150 - 210 beneficiaries each month.

Women 82%, Children 10%, Men 8%

Help us get tools and toys for childrens' therapy room

The children who have been receiving long-term treatment have requested new toys, games and books. No Toys, books, or games have been added to the children’s treatment room since 2018. These items are especially important tools that therapists utilize for children’s psychotherapy. Often, children are unable or unwilling to speak about their experiences, and these simple objects of play allow them to express themselves more comfortably and securely.

The branch library needs books

The library in Mosul is a multi-purpose room but lacks sufficient reading material. With only 60 books, it is hardly a library. Staff has requested on Mental Health, treatment methods and medical reference. We also require children’s books and young adult novels for patients.

For direct donations of books and reading material please email info@jiyan-foundation.org

Preparing for a second wave of COVID-19

With no vaccine available to the public in Iraq the potential for a second strict curfew in Mosul seems likely. Thankfully, our staff and patients are all accustomed to this change to digital treatment and tele-health when possible.

Fortunately, there is more than one way to help.

Share this project with friends and family, and let them know why the treatment center for survivor of ciolence and trauma in Mosul is worth supporting. With so many good causes out there, word of mouth is perhaps the most valuable tool at our disposal.

Links:

• Get a gift and give a gift! www.ShopJiyan.org
• Follow us on Facebook!
• Join us on Twitter