N.S. (pseudonym) was still a teenager when sectarian violence tore through Iraq in the mid-2000s. She stood frozen as her father was shot dead, the sound of her mother and sisters crying etched into her memory. Nearly three decades later, the fear born that day continues to shape her life. At 45, she refuses to marry, convinced that anyone she loves will also be taken away from her.

Three years after her father’s death, N.S. lost the ability to speak. Her mother, concerned about social stigma, rejected psychiatric treatment and confined her daughter to a separate room, believing that seeking medical help would bring shame. Her story reflects a wider, silent epidemic of untreated trauma affecting millions across Iraq.

Scars Run Deep

Years of conflict, unrest, and political instability have left Iraqis facing deep psychological scars. Depression, schizophrenia, and other mental health disorders are increasingly common. Studies estimate that more than one in five Iraqis suffer from mental illness, while government data released in 2024 shows suicide cases have surged 40% over the past decade, reaching 772 incidents.