Supporting traumatised women and girls in Iraq

Violent conflicts not only destroy infrastructure, they also leave behind broken hearts and bodies marked by visible and invisible scars. Trauma comes with painful emotions such as shame, guilt, self-blame, helplessness and powerlessness. It also negatively affects the way people think, feel and interact with others. 

The Kurdish region in north-eastern Iraq has experienced numerous conflicts, from the genocidal policies pursued by Saddam Hussein’s regime in the late 1980s to the invasion by the terrorist militia ISIS in 2014. Each of these events has caused deep trauma among the population.

At women’s rights organisation medica mondiale, we know that survivors can recover from trauma if they receive the help they need in an environment that is empathetic, supportive and non-judgmental. We have been working in the Kurdish region of Iraq since 2015, supporting women and girls who have suffered terribly, for example through sexualised violence. We collaborate with partner organisations to provide spaces in which these women and girls can rediscover their strengths and empower others. 

Stress- and Trauma-sensitive Approach

Our work is based on our “Stress- and Trauma-sensitive Approach” (STA). This low-threshold approach offers women and girls affected by sexualised violence access to support through individual and group counselling. The approach helps to establish a stress- and trauma-sensitive perspective at various levels of support, e.g. in healthcare and social work. It is designed to work even within low-resource environments and was developed in cooperation with medica mondiale’s partner organisations in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan and Liberia. The approach is taught to others in training courses and continuously adapted and refined to meet professional and regional needs.

The STA raises awareness among staff and other supporters, enabling them to respond appropriately to traumatised women. This stress- and trauma-sensitive perspective fosters empathy and understanding. We recognise the profound impact that trauma has and the feelings of insecurity, disconnection and disempowerment it provokes. Prioritising safety, trust, connection and solidarity, we empower women and girls to stand up for their rights. 

Supporting the supporters

The STA also ensures that those who support traumatised individuals remain stable themselves. This is crucial, as staff and psychologists often witness atrocities while helping survivors process their experiences. In the Kurdish region of Iraq, many supporters are themselves survivors of trauma. Working with others who are traumatised can trigger their own past experiences, leading to emotional strain in the form of compassion fatigue, burnout and secondary trauma. Secondary trauma refers to the emotional distress experienced by those supporting others, and its physical and psychological symptoms are similar to those observed in primary trauma survivors.

It is vital to support staff – not only for their own wellbeing, but also to enable them to continue helping others while being connected with themselves, their limitations and needs. For this reason, medica mondiale’s work in the region focuses on promoting self-care and staff care. As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup, which reminds us that caring for others starts with caring for ourselves.

However, the STA extends beyond individual support. One of medica mondiale’s core commitments is to address the root causes of sexualised violence. We address how patriarchal structures shape societies, how inequality becomes normalised, how survivors are silenced and how violence persists. We focus on raising awareness, breaking the silence and challenging the systems that enable violence. Recognising that violence devastates families, communities and entire societies is key to building environments that support healing and prevent further harm – in Iraq and around the world.

Link
medica mondiale, Stress- and Trauma-sensitive Approach:
medicamondiale.org/en/violence-against-women/overcoming-trauma/trauma-work-the-stress-and-trauma-sensitive-approach

Haneen Masoud is a therapist and trauma advisor specialising in mental health and gender-based violence. She has been working with medica mondiale in the Kurdish region of Iraq. 
presse@medicamondiale.org 

If you are thinking about taking your own life, please talk to friends and family about it. International suicide hotlines offer professional help:
https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/