The life expectancy of Palestinian Psychologists
A hidden casualty of conflict
The life expectancy of mental health professionals in conflict zones is rarely examined. In the case of Palestinian psychologists, especially those in the occupied Gaza Strip and West Bank, the threat to life is not only clinical but existential. The occupation, repeated military assaults, siege, and systemic violence create a working environment that jeopardises both their physical safety and psychological well-being. While data on life expectancy specific to Palestinian psychologists is scarce, broader indicators of violence, occupational burnout, and restricted access to health and professional development point toward a deeply compromised professional lifespan, both in years lived and years served.
Living and working under siege
Palestinian psychologists, particularly those in Gaza, operate under conditions of blockade, infrastructural collapse, and chronic trauma exposure. Since 2007, the Israeli-imposed blockade has severely limited the movement of people, including healthcare professionals, in and out of Gaza (UN OCHA, 2022). This restriction not only reduces access to life-saving treatment but also prevents professionals from attending training, conferences, or supervision essential for clinical development and emotional resilience.
The psychological toll of working in such conditions is immense. Psychologists are not immune to the trauma experienced by the communities they serve. In fact, they are often doubly exposed—through their clients and through personal experience. During Israel’s repeated military campaigns in Gaza, psychologists have reported symptoms of secondary traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression (Thabet & Thabet, 2017). For many, the boundaries between professional and personal trauma collapse entirely, as clinicians often treat victims of attacks while having lost family members or homes themselves.
Physical risk and targeting of health workers
Health professionals in Palestine, including mental health workers, face direct physical threats to their lives. Hospitals and health centres have been repeatedly targeted during military assaults. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2023), more than 500 attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel in Gaza were recorded in the first few months of the 2023–2024 assault alone.
Psychologists are often based in or affiliated with these targeted facilities. In October 2023, Israeli airstrikes destroyed multiple mental health clinics, including those run by international NGOs. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that several mental health workers, including psychologists, were killed in these attacks (Palestinian MOH, 2023). Unlike in most countries, where clinical practice is considered a protected profession, Palestinian psychologists are working in an environment where their professional status does not shield them from violence but may expose them to it.
Mental Health, burnout and occupational hazards
The concept of burnout among psychologists is well documented in the global literature, particularly in high-stress contexts (Maslach & Leiter, 2016). In Palestine, burnout is intensified by political and military pressures, insufficient resources, and a lack of professional infrastructure. Studies show that Palestinian mental health workers face high levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment (Marie et al., 2020).
Additionally, psychologists in Gaza frequently report feelings of helplessness and professional inadequacy, not because of a lack of skill, but because their clients' traumas are often ongoing and unresolved. This contributes to moral injury—a deep psychological distress caused by the inability to uphold professional ethics in an environment that makes ethical practice nearly impossible (Litz et al., 2009). Over time, such injuries are associated with suicidal ideation, substance use, and early departure from the profession.
A gendered dimension
The situation is particularly difficult for female psychologists, who comprise a significant portion of the mental health workforce in Gaza. Working under patriarchal social structures, compounded by militarised violence, women psychologists face dual burdens. Not only do they navigate trauma and danger in the workplace, but they also shoulder disproportionate caregiving responsibilities at home. This intersection increases stress and can reduce life expectancy through both physical and mental health deterioration (Afana et al., 2018).
Absence of data and structural neglect
One of the most striking aspects of the issue is the lack of comprehensive data. There is no existing registry or global report tracking the mortality or life expectancy of Palestinian psychologists. This absence is not accidental—it reflects a broader structural erasure of Palestinian suffering and professional life. As Fanon (1963) emphasised, the colonial condition erases the humanity of the colonised not just through death, but through the denial of narrative, voice, and memory.
Moreover, the global psychological community has largely remained silent. Major professional bodies rarely address the risks faced by their Palestinian counterparts, contributing to a sense of isolation and abandonment among psychologists in Palestine. This silence is both a professional and ethical failure, undermining the universality of psychological ethics and solidarity.
Resilience and resistance
Despite these challenges, Palestinian psychologists continue to serve their communities with remarkable dedication. Mental health services have grown significantly in the past two decades, often led by grassroots initiatives and supported by NGOs. Psychologists are engaging in collective supervision, peer support, and trauma-informed approaches rooted in cultural and religious values (Giacaman et al., 2007). These strategies act as forms of resistance, sustaining not only community well-being but professional survival.
Still, resilience should not obscure structural violence. Celebrating the perseverance of Palestinian psychologists without addressing the conditions that endanger their lives risks romanticising their suffering. Solidarity must include advocacy, resource allocation, and political pressure to end the conditions of occupation that place their lives at risk.
Conclusion
The life expectancy of Palestinian psychologists cannot be measured only in years lived, but in the cumulative impact of trauma, burnout, violence, and systemic neglect. These professionals work at the frontlines of trauma, often without protection or acknowledgement, their own well-being sacrificed for the sake of community survival. The global psychological community must do more to recognise their contributions, document their losses, and demand structural change. Their lives—like the lives of those they serve—matter not just in principle, but in urgent, material reality.
References
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https://www.who.int