Study Day on How To Treat War Victims Held Online with Participation of International Experts

With the aim of providing ideal psychological interventions to deal with victims of the war on the Gaza Strip, Gaza Community Mental Health programme has organized on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, a study day on ‘Psychological Treatments for Trauma’ in which international experts and academics participated.

The study day covered a group of important topics about psychological treatments for trauma.

Dr Ashraf Kaji, a professor, clinical specialist and lecturer at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, presented a session entitled ‘Brief Trauma treatment’, while Dr Guido Veronese, Associate Professor at Milan Bicocca University in Italy, and  Chiara Viscona, a specialist in the field of mental health, co-presented  a session entitled ‘Narrative Therapy’.

Dr Jeda Macivorek and Dr Christine Angelina, international experts in the field of psychological interventions in times of war, made a presentation on the ‘Using Eye Movement Treatment’ technique (EMDR).

The study day which was held via Zoom was attended by: Dr Yasser Abu Jamei, Director General; Dr Tayseer Diab, Deputy Director for Professional Affairs; Rawya Hamam, Director of the Department of Training and Scientific Research.

The meeting was also attended by a group of male and female professionals from the CMHP.

The aim of this important study day was to spotlight the importance of different psychological treatments and their effectiveness in dealing with ongoing trauma, especially in shadow of the harsh conditions resulting from the war on Gaza. The most important techniques associated with each type of psychological treatment were reviewed during the study day. The Activity also provided the opportunity to exchange experiences and raise important professional questions about the possibility of applying these treatments in the context of Gaza, and what type of people (with traumas) to which these techniques can most appropriately be administered.

The school day was concluded by emphasizing the importance of continuing to work on developing and applying various psychological treatments that suit the needs of society in Gaza.