13. August 2025 – BACK TO LIFE
MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT (MHPSS) AT BACK TO LIFE: REBUILDING LIVES IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ
Our BACK TO LIFE project in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is back in full swing! The project supports internally displaced women and girls – survivors of war, destruction, and genocide – in rebuilding independent, self-determined lives. Operating in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), our BACK TO LIFE Women’s Empowerment Centers have provided women of all faiths with safe spaces to process traumatic experiences and develop new skills.
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With the announced closure of these camps, the original BACK TO LIFE project concluded in September 2024. Recognizing the ongoing needs of displaced communities, we adapted our approach to continue supporting local women and girls in meaningful and sustainable ways. Our current focus includes providing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services, hands-on vocational training, such as handicrafts and gardening, and legal assistance for Yazidi survivors seeking reparations under the Yazidi Survivors Law (YSL).
As part of our MHPSS services, psychotherapists Aylin and Karzan offer individual and group sessions in the Sharya and Qadia IDP camps, along with mental health workshops. They also represent HÁWAR.help as MHPSS experts at conferences and panel discussions, including the “Bringing Arts and Social Sciences Together to Combat Violence Against Women” panel hosted by the University of Dohuk earlier this year. Issues such as sexualized violence, child marriage, restricted freedom of movement for women, and verbal abuse remain prevalent in the camps. During the panel, psychotherapist Aylin and fellow speakers addressed the realities of violence against women in displacement settings, explored prevention methods, and discussed how to create safer, more supportive environments. A key emphasis was placed on the importance of educating men about gender-based violence.
In addition, we conduct capacity-building workshops for local civil society organizations, equipping them with tools to strengthen their own MHPSS services. So far, we have conducted workshops on the topics of “Psychological Resilience Among Yazidi Survivor Girls”, “Suicide Prevention”, “Trauma and Its Effects” and “Obsessive-CompulsiIve Disorder (OCD)”.
By fostering psychological resilience and improving mental health outcomes for internally displaced women and girls, BACK TO LIFE empowers them to regain agency and lead self-determined lives. The project contributes to a more resilient society, promotes stabilization, and supports multicultural and multiethnic reconciliation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Through our capacity-building efforts, we are also enhancing the capabilities of local practitioners and ensuring sustained access to vital mental health services.
Looking ahead, we remain deeply committed to supporting the IDP community and prioritizing their mental health and well-being.
Thank you to the German Federal Foreign Office for supporting BACK TO LIFE.
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