The Director of the Mental Health Department at the Ministry of Health , Dr. Samah Jabr , that the Ministry has adopted, in conjunction with the Palestinian Child Day, which falls on tomorrow, Wednesday, a national mental health plan for children and adolescents.

Jaber told Al-Quds: "The great challenges Palestinian children face cause them psychological problems, and for this reason the Palestinian Ministry of Health has taken great steps in adopting a national plan for mental health for children and adolescents."

Jabr emphasized that occupied Palestine is a country that witnesses great challenges in the field of children's rights and the preservation of their psychological and social health, as children constitute about half of the population in Palestine, and Palestinian children are exposed to many challenges, including deprivation of basic rights such as education, basic health care, freedom and security, For example, schools in the city of Jerusalem witness dropouts of students at a rate of 13%.

Jabr indicated that Palestinian children suffer from great psychological and social challenges, as a result of the ongoing political and military events in Palestine, which cause the deterioration of the psychological and social conditions of children.

According to Jabr, Palestinian children face great challenges such as: violence, traumatic loss, arrest and captivity, discrimination, poverty and deprivation. They are affected healthily and educationally, especially since they are at the peak stage of their mental development, and are therefore more vulnerable to psychological harm compared to adults.

Jabr stressed that the well-being of Palestinian children is a national priority, and everyone must cooperate to preserve the health and safety of Palestinian children, and provide them with the necessary support to overcome the psychological and social challenges they face.

Jabr said, "The international community must be committed to protecting the rights of Palestinian children, providing them with the necessary environment, and ensuring the preservation of their dignity and basic rights, and this can only be done by opposing the occupation."

Speaking about the national plan, Jaber confirmed that it aims to improve the mental health status of children and adolescents in Palestine, and to enhance their social, emotional and psychological skills.

The head of the mental health unit at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Samah Jabr, that this plan includes: various procedures and programs for psychological and social support, supporting families and communities most affected, developing the competencies of groups working with children, expanding health and psychological services and mental health centers, establishing hospital units for children, and promoting awareness of mental health problems and psychotherapy. , combat stigma and provide specialized psychological support to children and adolescents in need and their families.

The Palestinian Child Day is a day celebrated on the fifth of April of each year, and it was approved by the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1995. This day aims to remind children of the rights and the need to protect them from all forms of abuse, discrimination and injustice.

It is noteworthy that on the fifth of April 1995, at the first Palestinian Child Conference, the late President Yasser Arafat announced his commitment to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, and declared the fifth of April a day for the Palestinian child. Note that the official ratification of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child by the State of Palestine was on April 2, 2014.