The Cost of Being Female: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) of displaced female youth in South Sudan and the Kurdistan region of Iraq

This briefing paper outlines the general situation of displaced female youth—unmarried, married, divorced, and widowed from a mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) lens. The study shows how female youth in displacement are negatively impacted by traumatic experiences arising from their families, communities, and as a result of war. It also provides evidence for the long-term negative impacts of being forcibly married, divorced and widowed. The paper outlines the special MHPSS challenges for female youth living with disabilities in displacement. It also shows the positive impacts of social connections on mental health for displaced youth of all marital statuses, and provides many recommendations for improving MHPSS supports for female youth in displacement.

This material is a part of the Early Marriage among Female Youth in Displacement Collection.