War leaves children with disabilities alone and afraid

Armed conflicts are increasing worldwide. On World Mental Health Day, we must remember the serious and lasting mental health damage caused by war. Insecurity, trauma, anxiety, and confusion are normal for people who live through armed conflict. More than one in five people in conflict areas are estimated to have mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress, depression, or anxiety. But access to mental health services is often inadequate. For children with intellectual disabilities, the harm is worse. Social, attitudinal, and environmental barriers interact with their disability. This can increase their exposure to violence and exclusion. In Syria, a father described how the war affected his 13-year-old son, who has an intellectual disability. The boy had become increasingly withdrawn and isolated. "He sits alone, doesn't want to interact with any other kids," the father said in 2020. He also described the psychological distress affecting his other children. "You can see the fear in their eyes. They have no hopes for the future." People with intellectual and other disabilities are often excluded from humanitarian aid and mental health services. This happens even when services are available to others. The reasons include communication barriers, a lack of accessible information, and inadequate communication support. Human Rights Watch has documented a lack of inclusive psychological support for people with disabilities in other armed conflicts, including in Gaza and Sudan. Governments should close these gaps. They should integrate disability-inclusive mental health support during conflict and recovery, in line with their international obligations. Humanitarian agencies should also make sure their programs are disability-inclusive and do not exclude people with disabilities. This could include accessible communication methods, such as pictograms and play therapy for children. It could also include training staff to provide disability-inclusive support. And it could include tactile regulation tools—like weighted lap pads, squeeze balls, and noise-canceling headphones—to help manage sensory overload. Accessible, inclusive mental health care cannot undo the trauma of war. But it can help create the conditions for recovery, inclusion, and hope for the future.