On August 3, 2014, a genocide began, one whose consequences still reverberate today. On that day, fighters from the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) stormed the Shingal region in northern Iraq, home to the Yazidi minority. Thousands of men were executed. Women and children were abducted, enslaved, raped, and sold. The world eventually recognized these atrocities as genocide, a designation now officially acknowledged by the United Nations, numerous governments, and, as of January 2023, the German parliament (Bundestag).

When I studied the history of medicine in Germany, the syllabus revolved around Hippocrates, Galen and the polished Latin name “Avicenna.” Only later did I discover that Avicenna is in fact Ibn Sīnā, a Persian polymath whose eastern roots were disguised by translation and renaming. That discovery sparked a question: which other foundations of mental health care have been hidden in plain sight?

Climate change represents one of the greatest challenges of our time, impacting not only our environment but also fundamental human rights. Particularly in fragile regions such as Kurdistan and Iraq, these impacts are already clearly visible. The interplay of ecological changes, political instability, and socioeconomic challenges requires comprehensive understanding and targeted actions.

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