Depression, anxiety, and coping strategies among Palestinian mental health professionals in the West Bank, Palestine: a cross sectional study

The war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, had a significant impact on the Palestinian population and mental health services. There are considerable negative psychological consequences, as well as an increase in fatality rates due to severe injuries and the destruction of infrastructure. However, there is a lack of research that investigates the impact of armed conflicts on the psychological well-being of mental health professionals who provide care to patients during armed conflict. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as coping strategies, among Palestinian mental health professionals in the West Bank during the Gaza war on October 7, 2023. This study employed a cross-sectional research design. Data were gathered through self-administered questionnaires, specifically the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Brief COPE scale. The prevalence of depression and anxiety and the relationships between the study’s variables the were examined using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages), Pearson correlation, and multivariate regression. We recruited a total of 514 participants, of whom 39.7% had depression and 36.6% had anxiety. The multivariate analysis revealed that participants who had work experience for 11–15 years (p = 0.030), those who treated patients affected by armed conflicts (p = 0.011), those whose psychological status was affected negatively by the current Gaza war (p = 0.007), and those who said that their psychological state had gotten worse during the wartime (p = 0.015) were more likely to develop depression. Additionally, those who used coping strategies such as venting (p = 0.009), self-blame (p = 0.010), and denial (p = 0.013) were more likely to develop depression. The use of active coping (p = 0.023), humor (p = 0.006), and self-distraction (p = 0.012) lowered depression risk. Also, participants who felt disabled or unable to deal with their patients during armed conflicts (p = 0.003), those who reported their need for training in crisis intervention and treatment of war victims (p = 0.020), and those who used self-blame (p < 0.001), denial (p < 0.001), and behavioral disengagement (p < 0.001) were more likely to experience anxiety symptoms. Finally, acceptance-based coping strategies reduced anxiety symptoms (p = 0.002). The findings reveal significant levels of depression and anxiety in mental health workers during armed conflicts and highlight a critical gap in support. To fix this, we need to quickly put in place complete plans, such as easy access to therapy, regular support from supervisors, and ongoing training, to protect the mental health of these important professionals.