Rally to Support Palestine, Nov. 1, 2023, at Henry Ford College, Dearborn, MI. Photo by Ashley Davis.

With multiple assignments due in less than 24 hours, you can’t piece together how you’ve lost track of time. Impending deadlines have faded into the background as phone calls report the loss of life and beloved neighborhoods turned to rubble. Each news feed engulfs you with existential dread, and you can’t focus long enough to complete your research paper.

This is a harrowing reality for students at Henry Ford College who have been impacted by the violence taking place in Palestine, Lebanon and Yemen. With the school reporting a 22 percent Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) population, HFC has a sizable community dealing with the trauma of war.

The Associated Press reported more than 3,500 Lebanese and 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel reignited its attacks on the countries last year. An October 2023 attack by Hamas claiming the lives of more than 1,000 Israeli civilians became the catalyst for the Israel-Hamas War.

On Nov. 14, a United Nations Special Committee released their findings of an investigation into Israel’s conduct in Gaza, which yielded evidence “consistent with the characteristics of genocide.” The UN Document (A/79/363) accuses Israel’s military of using “starvation as a weapon of war” and killing civilians “en masse.”

The Mirror News conducted a survey to gain deeper insight into how MENA students have been personally affected by their exposure to the violence in Gaza and Lebanon. Many expressed feelings of stress, anger, grief and depression. Some even revealed that family and friends are suffering from displacement in areas vulnerable to air strikes and other forms of devastating violence.

“With the current war in Gaza, my mental health has worsened. It feels terrible to witness everything continue for more than a year. Seeing the violence and suffering has taken a toll, making it difficult to find peace,” one Palestinian student wrote.

Another shared, “My family lives in Lebanon trying to survive airstrikes every day.”

In “Supporting Mental Health for Arab, Jewish and Muslim Youth During War,” Washington University - St. Louis researchers Ilana Seff and Cyril Bennouna published information from their “Study of Adolescent Lives After Migration to America.” It suggests that even when students don’t actively reside in areas of war-related violence, simply the exposure via online engagement or otherwise has the power to “generate considerable stress” and can impact how one builds identity and community.

HFC Arab American Community Liaison and mathematics professor Sam Bazzi has noticed these patterns. Created in 2017, the position of Arab American Community Liaison aims to bridge the gap between the local community and the college through partnership and advocacy.

Bazzi observes, “Students with family or cultural ties to Gaza and Lebanon are experiencing significant emotional strain. Knowing their loved ones are in danger or having lost relatives has brought heightened stress, anxiety, and grief.”

Bazzi adds, “This emotional weight can make it difficult for them to concentrate, leading to drops in class attendance, engagement, and performance. Several students have approached me directly to share their struggles, and other faculty members have reported similar [concerns] as well. These students are facing complex emotional challenges.”

In “Focusing on Arab American Mental Health,” researchers Nour Salloub and Ann-Marie Gomes shared that historical and political influences are major contributing factors to the foundation of mental health for Arab Americans.

One respondent to the The Mirror News survey went into detail about the struggle to process their grief: “The situation in Gaza and Lebanon has definitely impacted me, especially given my Yemeni heritage and my connection to the broader Arab world. Seeing the suffering, loss of life, and destruction in these regions is heartbreaking. It’s difficult to watch so many innocent people caught in conflicts that often feel beyond their control.”

Another talked about the difficulty of remaining sane while following developments of the turmoil. When awareness requires processing images of death and despair, it can prove difficult to protect yourself from becoming consumed.

“Dealing with the news about what’s happening is incredibly challenging. The constant reports of violence, displacement, and loss of life often feel overwhelming. I try to balance staying informed while also protecting my mental health. It’s hard not to feel emotional when I see the images of families being torn apart or entire communities devastated.”

Our survey feedback indicated a sizable number of students have family members and friends burdened by the loss of their homes. A Human Rights Watch study on “Israel’s Forced Displacement of Palestinians in Gaza” estimates that 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced as of October 2024.

“We lost our house, and my aunt lost her house as well. They are all currently [living] in a small house with 20 people,” a student wrote.

Data from the UN News wrote more than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon since Israel’s attack on the city’s capital in September 2023. The UN noted that many have traveled to Syria in a desperate attempt to evade Israeli airstrikes.

“My grandfather’s house in Lebanon was destroyed and is now in a pile on the ground,” a student wrote on the survey.

A different student wrote, “Many people I used to know [were] martyred.”

According to Al-Jazeera, every hour 15 are killed, 35 are injured and 42 bombs are dropped in Gaza. As death tolls continue to rise, our survey showed that MENA students expressed difficulties coping with the frequency of violence in the media. With access to smartphones, a swipe of the thumb can reveal images that “trigger” mental, physical and emotional trauma.

A student wrote “Grief for what is happening in Gaza and Lebanon is really hard to cope with [while] receiving news every day. I do attempt to keep up with the current events, but I found sometimes it can be all too much.”

Research from the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction studied youth cell phone usage during heightened violence in Palestine’s West Bank. The findings in “Portrayals of Violence and At-Risk Populations,” reported PTSD symptoms were more likely to occur in those who used social media more often and engaged with online material more frequently.

Fundraising, donating to relief efforts, increasing awareness through social media engagement and organizing on campus were some of the methods students say they use to deal with feelings about the cruelty happening in the Middle East. Talking with family and friends was also noted.

Some students understandably felt insulted and frustrated when asked how they “deal with” the heartbreak of senseless violence.

“How we deal with the news about what is happening in Lebanon and Palestine differs daily, yet nothing works. We try everything we can,” wrote a student on the survey.

A significant commonality amongst survey respondents was shared conviction in the importance of prayer. An overwhelming number of students referenced the practice as a way to stay grounded, extend empathy to others and manage stress.

“In my religion, we always pray for those who are in these unfortunate circumstances,” a student wrote.

“I cry sometimes because I know I can’t truly help them the way I wish I could. I donate as much as I can, attend protests, and say prayers, but it still doesn’t feel like enough. The war continues, and people are still suffering,” another student shared.

The survey offered an opportunity for students to voice their thoughts on Henry Ford College’s support to those impacted by violence in Palestine and Lebanon. Some expressed their approval.

“I think that the college has supported students immensely by allowing marches, contributing to donations, and some [allowing] a week off to gather ourselves,” one student said.

Another stated, “I believe the college has done its best to support students who may be struggling due to the events in Gaza and Lebanon, but there is always room for improvement.”

Other students have conflicting views on the schools willingness to support organizing efforts. In this case, the survey was used to express distaste for the school’s perceived negligence and attempt to remain neutral during such a polarizing time.

”To my knowledge, the college has not done much to aid students who may be struggling. Clubs led by the students themselves seem to be the ones that have been showing [the most] activism.” Other responses reflected a lack of awareness or insight regarding the schools action or lack thereof.

Increased access to counseling services and support groups were suggestions made by students that could be adopted by HFC. Flexible deadlines, educational efforts and time off from classes were other proposals.

”It would be helpful to have workshops or support groups focused on managing emotional responses to global crises. Offering flexibility with academic deadlines for students affected by emotional distress would be crucial. Sometimes it can be difficult to focus on schoolwork when you’re emotionally overwhelmed, and having understanding and support from the school could make a huge difference,” one student wrote.

Promoting fundraisers and submitting donations to relief efforts was also of significant importance to respondents.

Bazzi wants students to know that the City of Dearborn has resources available for those who may be experiencing a hard time and are in need of extra support.

“Many nonprofits in the area have mental health professionals who provide free counseling and support for families. Students can reach out to organizations like ACCESS and the American Chaldean Council for support.,” Bazzi said. The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) is a nonprofit group that provides community resources to those in need.

HFC’s Counseling Department also offers individual counseling to cope with stress, anxiety and other mental health issues. You can visit their website for appointment availability at hfcc.edu/student-services/counseling.

Despite being impacted by such dire circumstances, the survey also revealed that MENA students remain committed to their education.

“Attending Henry Ford College offers a great path for me to become a teacher. The [school] provides affordable tuition and a range of programs that align with my career goals,” a student explained.

A poem titled “Not Just Passing” by the late Palestinian writer Heba Abu Nada comes to mind. Nada was killed in her Gazan home by an Israeli airstrike on Oct. 20, 2023. An excerpt toward the end of her poem says:

One of the findings of The Mirror News survey is that MENA students at HFC refuse to be defeated by feelings of misery and hopelessness. They too are fighting to preserve the light inside themselves just like Nada..