Lebanon’s Beirut: By the time Zainab Dhaher and her family fled their southern Lebanese village in September, Israeli shelling was rampant. After driving 13 hours to Beirut, they discovered themselves once more within Israeli fire’s reach. Repetition of the displacement cycle.
“We ran out quickly,” he said. The 34-year-old mother of two recalls having to pack clothes for her children while speaking on the phone. No one helped us as we moved from place to place. No food, blankets, or anything else.
The concern persists even a few months after a November ceasefire was agreed to by the United States. Despite the truce, Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory continue, causing a number of people to worry about resuming the conflict, while Israel continues to rule important regions of the country’s south.
Despite Israel’s continued presence in some of their villages and the ongoing destruction of others, roughly 90,000 Lebanese people are unable to return home. Hezbollah targets are still being targeted by Israeli rockets, and the organization is pressing Israel to stop.
The psychological wounds from the devastating war have, however, proven more severe and persistent than any physical harm, according to Zainab, a 34-year-old mother of two.
“I’m terrified of the sound of drones. I cry when I hear the song “Ya Rayeh Sawb Bladi” by Ahmad Kaabour, “Oh, you who is going to my land,” because it reminds me of what we’ve lost. Zainab claims she can’t sleep despite the ceasefire. “I’m always worried that my kids will experience harm.” I doubt that the pain will ever go away.
And Zainab found herself turning to ChatGPT and artificial intelligence (AI) in Lebanon in the absence of a reliable, accessible mental health system.
A psychological ruin state
Lebanon has experienced a near-constant barrage of crises over the past few years, including the devastating Beirut port explosion in 2020, the deteriorating public health system, and the Israeli military’s most recent south offensive, which almost 4, 000 people were killed and tens of thousands were displaced. The population’s psychological burden is becoming more difficult to ignore in the midst of this chaos.
Mental health professionals warn of a sharp rise in anxiety, depression, PTSD, and psychosomatic symptoms in the nation, particularly among those who reside close to the southern border, journalists who report on the violence, and humanitarian workers on the ground. Mental health support is still a luxury in a nation where therapy sessions cost between $40 and $100, which is more than many people can afford.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Randa Baraja, a member of the CPRM Clinic in Beirut, claims that “there is no national strategy for psychological recovery.” “We’re seeing a resurgence of trauma, not just from the most recent conflict, but also from Lebanon’s entire history of violence, including the civil war, political assassinations, and subsequent economic collapse,” said one witness. The trauma is cumulative and affects generations.
Patients using ChatGPT as a kind of emotional crutch are on the rise, according to Baraja. We’re seeing a growing trend, she says, especially among younger people, to use AI for emotional support. They ask it to diagnose them, seek comfort, and confide in it. It shows how desperately we need someone who is simply listening, or something along those lines.
She does, however, warn about the risks. ChatGPT does not provide genuine emotional connection. The human connection that is necessary for healing cannot be replicated. Further, it can impede access to qualified assistance in more dangerous ways. Although some people believe they are improving, others are frequently not.
Zainab had that experience. She tried one after reading a Facebook post that suggested using ChatGPT to perform mental health “self-tests.” The bot’s response was alarming because it listed potential diagnoses ADHD, PTSD, and schizophrenia. She admits, “It shook me.” However, I was unable to pay for therapy. I make $400 per month working in a beauty salon. Rent alone is $1, 200. According to her, “Therapy isn’t a choice for people like me,” she says in reference to the displacement home’s lease.
ChatGPT initially appeared to be a tool. But she became more and more resentful as a result. Its responses were hollow, they said. After each conversation, I started to feel more angrier. It resembled “hurry into a void”
We left the conflict, but it continued to exist.
War’s psychological effects are difficult to reverse. One in five people in conflict-affected regions are affected by mental health conditions ranging from mild depression to severe anxiety and psychosis, according to the World Health Organization.
Economic despair amplifies the impact in Lebanon. Families are having a hard time addressing basic needs, let alone paying for therapy, with the Lebanese lira losing nearly 97 percent of its value since 2019 and rising poverty rates. Particularly in rural and underserved areas, public mental health services are inaccessible.
When Israeli forces burned her home and small business during the war, Sarah Rammal, a 22-year-old fashion entrepreneur from al-Aadaissah border town, lost it. She is now attempting to rebuild Beirut from scratch in a rented apartment there. She claims, “I felt like my life had been wiped out.” “To relieve the pain, I started ChatGPT every night.”
The routine initially worked out. Talking to a real person “felt easier.” No conclusion. But it lost its effectiveness over time. It didn’t allow me to advance. Just repeating myself with the same sense of sadness.
She eventually sought professional assistance. I felt lighter after one therapy session. AI is still used occasionally, but I now realize it isn’t a substitute.
A subdued mental health issue
The most severely affected by the most recent war were the Lebanese youth, who are already dealing with political disillusionment and economic uncertainty. According to Rani, a hotline responder for Embrace, a leading mental health NGO, young people’s calls have soared significantly in recent months.
The majority of calls are related to war. They worry about their chances in this country, she says, requesting only her first name because she is not permitted to speak to the press. More people are also mentioning using AI as a coping mechanism, according to the report. It’s simple, affordable, and free. However, it isn’t a practical solution.
The Ministry of Health of Embrace and Lebanon released a mental health app called Step-by-Step, which was created by clinical psychologists to counteract this. According to Rania, “it’s free, confidential, and personalized to individual needs.” We make an effort to help there, they say.
Siba Haidar Ahmed, a master’s student in clinical psychology, claims that many of her classmates and peers have used artificial intelligence (AI) in times of crisis. She claims that using ChatGPT frequently is not the problem. When people mistake it for therapy, they say.
AI has a temporary effect, despite its ability to provide surface-level comfort. It can inspire you with inspirational quotes or validate your feelings. However, reality strikes once the conversation is over. That sudden resumption can cause hopelessness or emptiness to increase.
The psychological recovery in southern Lebanon continues to be elusive as families try to rebuild their destroyed or damaged homes after months of shelling. Many people turn to their screens in search of comfort and algorithms-based answers.
Zainab, who is now back in her village, claims to be trying to recover, but her wounds are extensive. She continues, “We left the war.” “But the war did not leave us.”
Source: Aljazeera
Leave a Reply