Time to consider mental health in Libya
By William Smith
Who can predict what effect years of oppression, cruelty and deprivation of freedom will have had on the mental health to the citizens of Libya?
It is hard for different cultures to understand each other’s customs and expectations. Yet it would seem that the cruelty suffered by so many at the hands of Gadhafi and his family must be beyond physical and mental endurance.
In order to understand the health of a nation we should stop to consider individuals. One woman who has been in the spotlight is Shwayga Mullah. Shwayga’s story touched hearts around the world when CNN drew attention to the plight of this Libyan nanny who says that she suffered horrible injuries at the hands of the Gadhafi family.
Mullah told CNN that Aline Gadhafi, the wife of Gadhafi’s son Hannibal, poured boiling water on her after losing her temper when her daughter wouldn’t stop crying. Mullah refused to beat the child as ordered and was attacked by Aline. She had her face and hands bound and then had boiling water poured over her which has left her face looking like a grotesque mosaic of red wounds and scars. Her chest, torso and legs are also mottled with scars.
David Cameron has praised the role of CNN in drawing attention to Mullah’s plight. He told CNN’s senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance ‘There are charities, I know, that actually fly around the world and do incredible reconstructive surgery and other things to help people like the case that you raised and maybe there’s a chance this could happen in this case.’
While we all hope that this nanny gets the emergency treatment that she needs for her physical injuries we must not forget the mental scarring.
Mullah and so many others have been tortured, oppressed and deprived of basic human rights. Many Libyan citizens are mourning the deaths of their loved ones. There are organisations who can step in to help with immediate and much needed requirements, help such as rebuilding, utility supplies, food and hospital care but what of mental health?
In the aftermath of Gadhafi’s reign of terror, who will care for the minds of these people? Is it time to consider the need for international assistance to safeguard mental health? With natural disasters hitting around the world with alarming regularity and so much global conflict surely this is something which should be considered in order to repair the overall health of nations.
