Mental Health Support During the Middle East Conflict: Practical Ways to Navigate This Difficult Time

As the conflict in the Middle East continues to unfold and the news cycle feels relentless, it’s understandable if you, or people on your team, are feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

You are not alone in feeling this way and small acts of connection and care, both for ourselves and for each other, matter more than ever. When the world feels heavy, checking in with those closest to us can make a real difference.

1 Listen actively.
Give people space to share what they’re feeling. Try to listen without judgement and without jumping in to fix things. Often, feeling heard is more powerful than any solution.

2 Ask open-ended questions.
Rather than yes/no questions, gently invite conversation. You might ask, “How are you holding up?” or “Is there anything you want to talk about?” This creates room for honesty and connection.

3 Offer specific support.
Instead of saying, “Let me know if you need anything,” which can sometimes feel overwhelming, offer something concrete. For example: “I can drop off dinner this week,” or “Would you like some company, or would you prefer some alone time?”

A reminder that it is okay if you need to take a break from the news. If you need to remain informed then consider using reputable sources like updates issued by reputable and independent resources such as the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.

With this in mind, doomscrolling is an easy trap to fall into, but constant exposure to distressing headlines can take a toll on our mental health. The Mental Health Foundation has shared practical, supportive tips to help manage news consumption and break the doomscroll cycle, which may be helpful if you’re finding it difficult to step away. See here.

For additional support and resources UnMind have a resource called “Coping during war, conflict or disaster” by Dr Max Major, Senior Clinical Psychologist. While it is published in October 2023 with the Israel-Gaza conflict in mind, it has suggestions for supporting yourself, those directly affected and colleagues and employees (both near and from afar) which are applicable for the escalating crisis in the Middle East. See here.

If you or someone you love is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, you can contact Samaritans on 116 123 or call NHS 111 and select option 2.