Psychological trauma
Photo: Young Iraqis have held numerous protesters against corruption and poor governance this year [EPA]
Young Iraqis scarred by war
It is difficult to quantify the psychological trauma caused by the war, because the Iraqi government does not have reliable mental health statistics.
But the data points which are available are striking: A United Nations survey found that one in five young Iraqis suffer from chronic headaches caused by stress; one in four show symptoms of PTSD. A 2009 study carried out by the World Health Organisation found that 17 per cent of Iraqis suffer from mental disorders, mostly depression, phobias and PTSD. 70 per cent of those afflicted have tried to commit suicide.
"We survived during the sectarian problems, but we couldn't leave the house, we couldn't do our jobs," Rashid said. "Those were hard days."
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