Confrontations with Israeli forces and the settler community, disputes among different Palestinian political factions, the difficult economic situation, domestic problems, and general frustration all take a heavy toll on the people living in the district of Hebron, in the West Bank. Many Palestinians suffer from depression, trauma and other anxiety disorders. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is running a programme in Hebron that aims to alleviate the suffering of victims of violence, offering psychological and social support as well as medical care.

The web documentary Confronting Trauma: MSF’s Mental Health Project in Hebron gives an overview of the situation in the district and the old city of Hebron and explains how MSF staff respond to the needs of residents. Through the stories of Palestinian families and interviews with people working for MSF, the documentary shows the impact of relentless on people’s health and their lives.

MSF has been working in Occupied Palestinian Territory since 1989. In 2011, MSF teams provided psychological, medical and social support to people in Gaza, Hebron, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tubas and East Jerusalem. In total, MSF staff carried out more than 1,600 medical consultations, and more than 4,000 mental health consultations.