How can healthcare workers cope with the emotional toll of witnessing a humanitarian crisis, and what can be done to protect them in conflict zones?

What are the mental health impacts of being an outspoken advocate for Palestinians in politically hostile environments?

In this episode of Third Culture Therapy, Dr. Omar Abdel-Mannan, a British-Egyptian paediatric neurologist and humanitarian activist, joins us to discuss these questions. As a leading voice in the global movement to protect healthcare workers in Palestine, Omar shares the mental and emotional challenges he’s faced after witnessing the horrors in Gaza. He also reveals advice he received from PTSD experts on how to process such trauma healthily.

We dive into Omar’s experience as a UK-based activist, the personal challenges of advocating for Palestinian rights in a politically difficult environment, and the reasons he decided to speak publicly about the mental health struggles faced by medics, including suicidal ideation. Omar sheds light on why it’s essential to destigmatise mental health issues among healthcare workers, particularly those on the frontlines of conflict.

Together, we explore Omar’s journey as a humanitarian, from his early trips to the West Bank and Gaza to co-founding Gaza Medic Voices, a platform amplifying the voices of Palestinian healthcare workers. We also discuss his work with Health Workers for Palestine, a global civil society movement holding vigils for healthcare workers killed in Gaza.

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Finally, To hear more from our brilliant guest you can follow Omar's work here and here.

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