Pathogenic poverty.. and impoverished disease..

Palestine has been suffering from the problem of poverty for decades, as many citizens live in difficult conditions and great economic challenges. Palestinians in all regions of the West Bank and Gaza Strip are affected by poverty, and the poverty rate varies between regions and governorates. According to a report issued by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics in 2020, the poverty rate in East Jerusalem reached 75.6%, while the unemployment rate in the city reached 18.1%. . While the report of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in 2022 indicated that nearly a third of the population (29.2%) in Palestine suffers from poverty, and the poverty rate in the Gaza Strip reached (53%), while it reached (13.9%) in the West Bank.

The Israeli occupation is one of the most important factors affecting the level of poverty in Palestine, as it imposes many restrictions on movement, movement, trade and investment, which negatively affects the Palestinian economy and increases unemployment and poverty rates. The wars and permanent political, economic and social crises that Palestine is witnessing increase the risks of poverty and exacerbate the economic and social conditions of citizens. Environmental factors and the lack of water and natural resources increase poverty rates in rural areas in particular.

It is well known that poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon, and this concept indicates that poverty is not just a lack of income and wealth, but that it includes many other factors that affect the lives of individuals and hinder their ability to live in dignity. The different dimensions of poverty include, but are not limited to: material poverty, lack of access to basic health services and education, lack of access to clean water and sanitation, lack of access to adequate and fair employment opportunities, discrimination and social and political exclusion, and lack of equal access to growth opportunities. Economic and development. This concept includes that poverty cannot be addressed by granting the poor financial allocations only, but rather it needs to address many different dimensions in an integrated and simultaneous manner, which requires joint efforts from governments, civil society, the private sector and international organizations.

However, it is important to pay attention to the existence of a close relationship between mental illness and poverty, as poverty can lead to an increased risk of mental illness, and on the contrary, mental illness can lead to poverty. With regard to the increased risk of mental illness, poverty leads to exposure of individuals to many harsh and difficult conditions, such as psychological stress, social and economic instability, lack of access to health services and psychological treatment, discrimination and social exclusion, and these factors can increase the risk of developing mental illnesses such as Depression, anxiety, stress, schizophrenia and addiction.

On the other hand, mental illnesses can lead to poverty, as these diseases are likely to affect job performance and the ability to work, and thus can lead to job loss and deterioration of the physical condition of the individual and his family. Also, psychological and pharmacological treatment can be very expensive, especially if a person has been receiving private treatment for a long time, in addition to that some psychiatric medications needed for treatment may not be available at a low cost in some areas. There is no doubt that the mentally ill may face difficulty in finding suitable and stable work due to his psychological disorders and because of societal stigma, which leads to loss of income and deterioration of the economic situation.

However, the foregoing does not mean that the mental patient will necessarily become poor, as this depends on several factors such as the type of mental disorder, the necessary treatment, and the support available from the family and society. Mental disorders can affect the patient's economic and financial life significantly, but it does not necessarily lead to poverty if there is sufficient support from the family, community and health system. We also have to stress that not every poor person is mentally ill. There are many needy people who enjoy good mental health, happy family life, and rich friendships.

In Palestine, mental health services and psychiatric medications are available free of charge in 14 governorates in the West Bank and in six governorates in Gaza for those who need them. However, we must work together in all sectors to address poverty, provide basic health and psychological services to the largest number of needy individuals and help improve their living and economic conditions by giving them free health insurance and suitable job opportunities, and this is in parallel with the request of the international community to work to achieve justice and peace for the Palestinians .