Introduction

Palestinian refugees are persons whose normal place of living was Palestine, between June 1946 and
May 1948, who lost both their homes and means for livelihood as a result of the Arab – Israeli conflict.
The number of Palestinian refugees grew from 914,000 in 1950 up to 3.8 million in 2001 and there is a
continuous rise due to the natural population growth. One third of registered Palestinian refugees live in
59 camps in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, West Bank, and Gaza. Nowadays, Palestinian refugee camps are a
model of poor environmental conditions and lack of green and planted areas or open spaces, with
overcrowding. This has affected the people’s lives from cradle to grave. In addition to material losses,
economic disaster and lack of independence, the unsolved military conflict heavily burdens mental
health of adolescent girls. Like in other contemporary military conflicts, Palestinian girls and adolescents
are witnessing atrocities and humiliation and have chosen actively to participate in the national
resistance and military confrontations.

Mental health and psychopathology

Adolescence is a critical period of development physiologically, psychologically, and cognitively. During
this period, adolescents begin to explore the world and make decisions about their future roles by
incorporating the norms and values of their societies. Yet living under conditions of prolonged conflict
can interfere with normal identity development and can radically influence their psychosocial health, as
well as their outlook on the future. Adolescents who grow up in such conditions are faced with lack of
security and dissolution of social structures, factors that threaten their physical, emotional, and social
development. The lives and well-being of these adolescents, their families and friends are at risk daily.
They may experience the loss of or separation from family members, and uprooting or expulsion from
their homes. Their parents may become unemployed and relations within the family can be dramatically
altered. However, responses to living in a context of violence and trauma are not universal in nature and
can manifest in a range of mild-to-severe psychological disorders, or no disorder at all. Indeed, there is
no universal response to highly stressful events, and many of those exposed to the excesses of war heal
within community, as personal recovery is deeply rooted in social recovery.

Housing and mental health

Housing is defined as a house, shelter or dwelling. A household is one or more families or individuals
‘who make common provision for food or other essentials of living. There are many factors that link the
housing conditions to mental health. Some of these factors the site of residential area, crowding,
availability and access to water and sanitation, proximity to health care, access to education,
transportation and place of employment, and the tenure.

-The reality of the situation in area (C) and (H2)

The pressures of the occupation in Area C are more difficult for adolescent girls, and affecting their
mental health and a decent life, in addition to deprivation of opportunity such as education. Families
and communities live in a widespread threat of home demolitions and forced displacement. Home
demolitions are particularly hard on adolescent girls. Most communities in Area C have gender roles
traditional, reflecting conservative views and economic constraints, where women occupy the domestic
spheres, their responsibilities are limited as housekeeping. Adolescent girls in area C suffer of the
difficult circumstances starting from childhood, the opportunities for Palestinian girls have limited access
to education; As a result of the absence of structure Infrastructure and movement restrictions. It is
common for girls to drop out of school. Which leads to early marriage, pregnancy and sexual abuse.
Adolescent girls have additional challenges, as there are few economic opportunities, in these remote
areas, women in general own little guarantees, or the possibilities of obtaining financing.

- The reality of the situation in the area (H2)

Socio-economic status contributes to promoting male domination Which confirms the importance of
home life for adolescent girls. The scarcity of psychological services in the (H2) area and the inability of
women on moving outside the area prevents women from obtaining the services they need leading to
fewer chances for reaching help to improve their mental health and their economic situation.

Double assault on adolescent girls

adolescent girls suffer of tow types of mental and physical violence, occupation violence and violence
within the family. The severity and impact of gender-based violence on women is linked Partially to the
availability and effectiveness of the anti-violence services for treating and opposing violence which is
linked to a number of Services such as psychological and social counseling and legal services health and
humanitarian aid.

The level of education of parents

There is growing evidence of increasing mental health problems among adolescent girls living with
uneducated parents as they impede their participation in their own community provoking struggles and
anxieties. In addition to the Limited awareness Campaigns as They practically do not receive any legal
services and psychological support is very limited and the levels of humanitarian aid are very low.

The effect of the economic situation

Exposure to stressful events, characteristic to military occupation and armed conflict, tended to
deteriorate adolescent girl’s mental health. as indicated by severe anxiety, depression, hostile feelings
and psychiatric symptoms, and also deteriorating their general health. A good economic situation,
sufficient social support, and religious commitment functioned as protective factors in stress process.
they were able to diminish the impact of exposure to stressors on adolescent girl’s mental health.