UNICEF’s Post

For most of his life, 12-year-old Jassem has lived through conflict and displacement in Syria. He has faced hunger, bullying and the uncertainty of never having a stable home. “I hated school. Every time someone called me ‘short boy’ or laughed at me, my heart just hurt. I wanted to run away,” he said. Things began to shift when a UNICEF-supported psychosocial support team visited his school. Encouraged to speak up, Jassem reached out to Kholoud, a trained case manager. Through regular sessions, she helped him cope with stress, respond to bullying and recognise his strengths. “Now I know that no one is perfect and everyone has something unique,” he said, beaming. “Ms. Kholoud helped me realise I have talents too.” Today, Jassem sings, plays football and dreams big. He hopes for a home of his own, a proper bed and a laptop for school. “I hate sleeping on a mattress on the floor. My body aches,” he said. But when he talks about the future, his eyes light up: “I want to become a pilot. I’ll take my parents around the world then back home in my own plane.” Jassem’s mental health improved when he was given space to feel seen and heard. In every emergency, mental health support must be part of the response, because every child has the right to health. #OnMyMind