Gaza Is Showing Us We Need New Tools to Measure Trauma

As the physical toll of conflict mounts for Gazan civilians, so too does the emotional and psychological suffering. Yara M. Asi, an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida, believes that we need new language and ways to understand the depth of trauma currently faced by Palestinians in Gaza. In this audio essay, she argues that Western perspectives and diagnostics for mental health are insufficient for measuring and understanding the short- and long-term impact of sustained conflict on civilians.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication in the audio player above.)

Credit…Illustration by The New York Times; Photograph by NurPhoto/Getty Images

This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Alison Bruzek, Kaari Pitkin and Annie-Rose Strasser. Engineering by Efim Shapiro with mixing by Carole Sabouraud. Original music by Pat McCusker and Carole Sabouraud. Fact-checking by Mary Marge Locker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta.

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