Nakimuli-Mpungu, E., Agumya, F., Maulik, P. K., & Adewuya, A. (2026). Child and caregiver mental health in conflict affected settings. BMJ, 392, s319. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s319
Abstract:
One in five children worldwide live in settings affected by conflict or violence, a twofold increase compared with the mid-1990s. Conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, together with protracted crises elsewhere, are exposing around half a billion children globally to armed violence and related harms. Children in these settings experience raised rates of mental health problems, driven not only by direct exposure to violence but also by disruption of daily life, including poverty, hunger, displacement, and breakdown of essential services. To reach more children, mental health support must move beyond small, short term projects and become part of regular health, school, and social services, alongside sustained commitment from governments and global actors.