Trauma severe for Iraqi children-Study: In Baghdad, 70% showing signs

[babylonsister]

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070416/1a_lede16.art.htm

Trauma severe for Iraqi children
Study: In Baghdad, 70% showing signs

By James Palmer
USA TODAY

BAGHDAD — About 70% of primary school students in a Baghdad neighborhood suffer symptoms of trauma-related stress such as bed-wetting or stuttering, according to a survey by the Iraqi Ministry of Health.

The survey of about 2,500 youngsters is the most comprehensive look at how the war is affecting Iraqi children, said Iraq's national mental health adviser and author of the study, Mohammed Al-Aboudi.

"The fighting is happening in the streets in front of our houses and schools," Al-Aboudi said. "This is very difficult for the children to adapt to."

The study is to be released next month. Al-Aboudi discussed the findings with USA TODAY.

Many Iraqi children have to pass dead bodies on the street as they walk to school in the morning, according to a separate report last week by the International Red Cross. Others have seen relatives killed or have been injured in mortar or bomb attacks.

"Some of these children are suffering one trauma after another, and it's severely damaging their development," said Said Al-Hashimi, a psychiatrist who teaches at Mustansiriya Medical School and runs a private clinic in west Baghdad. "We're not certain what will become of the next generation, even if there is peace one day," Al-Hashimi said.

more...

[Jacobin]

1. Silly article. Only American soldiers suffer from PTSD

:sarcasm:

[Draill]

2. This article

is short and to the point, not to mention heartbreaking. I think I'll print off several copies to hang on the bulletin board at my grocery store, etc. Perhaps others will do the same.

Thanks for the post, babylonsister.

[bigtree]

3. this is sad

"We're not certain what will become of the next generation, even if there is peace one day."

All of that is irrelevant to Bush and his supporters. This was supposed to be so good for the Iraqis. They'll never admit that the state of affairs in Iraq is 100% worse for Iraqis than it was with Saddam in power.

[G_j]

4. thank you, This is what Americans are afraid to even think about

but of course the children are traumatized!
This is child abuse on a scale beyond what most people can comprehend.
criminal

[NNN0LHI]

5. How they managed to survive Shock and Awe I will never know n/t

[phusion]

6. I know...

I remember feeling very nauseous while watching that awful bombing campaign in front of my television. I can't imagine what it was like for the children in Baghdad. :(

[Javaman]

7. the U.S. is now in the business of breeding perpetual violence...

it's good for the weapons business.

We are so fucked.

[donkeyotay]

15. Yes, the bush administration is the gift that will keep on giving

Creating more terrorists, more Abu Ghraibs, and less national stability and human rights. It will be very profitable, and that's all that counts.

[LeftishBrit]

8. That is heartbreaking

[malaise]

9. Thank the war criminals

I can't take much more of this.

[Selatius]

10. They will grow up and learn to hate America.

Then they will teach their own children to hate America.

[truedelphi]

11. Just K & Red

Will read later today - Cannot start my Monday off with such depressing stuff.
It would make me want to go back to bed and pull covers over head.

[frogcycle]

12. I have to think that 70% is

a low figure

How could ANY kid not be traumatized - severely - by that environment.

Hell, my sister had nightmares over a damned hokey b-horror film we saw.

These kids - every one of them - live with the knowledge that they, their friends, and families, may be blow to little pieces at any time, in any place.

[DeepModem Mom]

13. Thanks, babylonsister -- K&R. nt

[JNelson6563]

14. And in 20 years, when they exact their revenge

America will wonder why they hate us for our freedoms. *sigh*

Julie

[pberq]

16. Amy Goodman also reported this

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/04/16/1333255

Study: 70% of Baghdad Children Suffering Trauma
In other Iraq news, a new study from Iraq’s health ministry has found close to seventy percent of Baghdad school children are showing symptoms of trauma-related stress. The symptoms include stuttering and bed-wetting. The International Committee of the Red Cross reported last week many Iraqi children are forced to pass dead bodies on the street as they walk to school.

U.S. Bars Iraqi Doctor from Delivering Lecture
A leading Iraqi doctor who co-authored a study on Iraq’s death toll since the US invasion has been barred from entering the United States. Riyadh Lafta was set to give a talk at the University of Washington on the growing rise in cancer rates among Iraqi children. U.S. immigration officials ignored Lafta’s visa request a half-dozen times before finally turning him down. Lafta will still make the speech -- he’s been invited to speak at Simon Fraser University in Canada.