Document Type
Capstone Experience
Graduation Date
12-2025
Degree Name
Master of Public Health
Department
Health Promotion
First Committee Member
Shireen S. Rajaram, Ph.D.
Second Committee Member
Michelle Strong, Ph.D., MPH, MFA, CHES
Third Committee Member
Melissa Tibbits, Ph.D.
Abstract
This literature review examines mental health outcomes among Yazidi females who survived Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) captivity during the 2014 genocide. Yezidis, one of the oldest communities of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), have a distinct ethnoreligious identity that has made them the target of repeated persecution and genocides throughout their history (Kizilhan, 2018). In order to draw a complete picture of the survivors' needs, it is essential first to understand the mental health impacts of the violence-related trauma. At the same time, the interpretation of mental health outcomes and their causes helps tailor culturally appropriate support services.
Searches were conducted in PsycINFO, Scopus, CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar for English-language studies published between 2015 and 2025 that examined mental health outcomes among formerly enslaved Yazidi females. After screening 114 records against predefined criteria, 26 studies met the inclusion criteria.
Most of these studies were conducted in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in northern Iraq, while fewer additional studies were administered among resettled refugees in Germany. Across studies, findings consistently indicated a severe burden of trauma-related symptoms, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and somatic distress. A small number of intervention studies described culturally responsive psychosocial approaches that showed potential benefit. However, the absence of longitudinal research and limited age-specific analyses were the main gaps found in the literature.
Overall, the existing literature underscores the need for long-term, culturally grounded mental health services that can support effective recovery and reintegration for Yazidi survivors.
Recommended Citation
Murad, Hind, "Unheard Voices: Mental Health Outcomes of Yazidi Females in the Aftermath of the Genocide by ISIS: A Literature Review" (2025). Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health. 426.
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/coph_slce/426