RESEARCH
Mental Health In Crisis:
A Case-Study Analysis of Syria
MARYAM GEURRAB, Harvard College '25
THURJ Volume 15 | Issue 2
Abstract
The following paper implements a biosocial approach to answer 1) How has the ongoing conflict in Syria shaped the mental health crisis among internally displaced persons (IDPs)? and 2) What structural, political, and cultural barriers prevent effective mental health care delivery in low-resource and volatile settings? Using a framework which emphasizes the importance of social factors in shaping health outcomes, the study draws from reports from international organiza- tions (e.g. WHO, UNHCR, and the IMC), academic literature, and statistical indices (e.g. Disability-Adjusted Life Years), to critique neoliberal ideologies, western-centered approaches to care, and bureaucratic constraints that limit impactful mental health intervention. The findings demonstrate how systemic failures—funding misallocation, lack of culturally adaptive tools, and disconnects between local and international actors—exacerbate psychological distress and perpetuate health inequities for Syrians, IDPs, and others in conflict zones around the world.