Mental health complications and the stench of death in the streets of Sudan
By: Alaa Babiker
Death in Sudan, and particularly Khartoum, is becoming an everyday phenomenon. Not only that, but for more than 40 days the presence of dead bodies of both soldiers and civillians in the streets is an occurrence on a daily basis. The scenes of firing guns and bombs all day, and the smell of dead bodies is becoming a deep memory that negatively affect our mental health more and more.
Before the sudden breakout of this War in Khartoum, I have been writing a series of mental heath care topics with in-depth psychological understanding of the health of our minds, including how to overcome the common difficulties and how to prevent and overcome drug misuse, highlighting in most of the articles the importance of mental health and psychological well-being and simply explaining how they greatly affect our everyday life. Now, after this War, it became even more complicated for me to explain the real challenges and complications of mental health problems that we face everyday.
The way our human minds store events is critically magnificent, and the way those events are restored is even more magical. Also, how our minds get affected by the sudden traumatic events our eyes see for the first time, and how they affect our mental health?!
Since the morning of the 15th of April 2023, civillians in Khartoum started to suddenly hear gun shots while inside their homes, not to mention that random bullets have taken as many as tens of lives so far. In addition, seeing dead bodies in the streets is a complete shock, specially to those who have never been in war zones before. The minds of civillians are storing these shocks and will react and restore them in different manners. Some people already started to show serious mental stress that is reflected as lack of sleeping and phobias to minor sounds. But what about the minds of those who are mute?! Those who keep storing and not letting out?! When and where will their minds restore?! Will they be ready?!
Due to all of the above mentioned traumatic events, the minds of those witnessing this war are greatly affected, and the need for psychological counciling has never been greater. I have personally spoken to some people who moved to safe places but still hear the sound of bullets while they are awake, and expect an explosion the second they hear a bird moves on a tree, living in a state of continuous fear, and wishing and praying for the end of this war. Yes we need mental health care, but may us have a physical health care first?!
In the end, Sudan is entering a new phase of change and hopefully development. And the need for collaborative psychological assistance is increasing. Let us be there for each other. Let us help each other to maintain the least healthy mental health that we need to survive this difficult time. May Allah end this war, and may Him keep us all safe.