The 2024 Edward Said memorial lecture at Princeton University featured psychiatrist Samah Jabr, who analyzed the global reverberation of Palestinian historical trauma. Born in Jerusalem in 1976, Jabr became one of the first Palestinian women to practice in the field, navigating the intersection of clinical mental health and the political realities of life under occupation.
Professional Training and Early Career
Jabr graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Al-Quds University in 2001, belonging to the institution's inaugural class. Her professional development spanned several countries, including advanced psychiatric training in France and the United Kingdom, alongside clinical research in the United States. She also received psychotherapy training at the Israel Psychoanalytic Institute of Jerusalem. Her clinical practice addresses the mental health consequences of occupation, a subject she began writing about in the 2000s.
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For over nine years, Jabr served as the Head of the Mental Health Unit within the Palestinian Ministry of Health, a role she held between 2008 and 2025. Beyond the public sector, she maintains a private practice. Her institutional influence extends to international organizations; she has functioned as a consultant and trainer for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Save the Children, and Doctors Without Borders. She also contributes to the academic community as a supervisor at George Washington University and a fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Science and Policy.
Advocacy and Intellectual Focus
Jabr bridges the divide between clinical psychiatry and human rights advocacy. A volunteer for the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, she assists in documenting victim testimonies. She appeared in the 2017 French documentary Beyond the Frontlines, directed by Alexandra Dols, to discuss the accountability of perpetrators. Her written work, including the book Derrière les fronts, explores the mental health impacts of colonialism. She advocates for developing autonomous mental health standards for Palestine, arguing against reliance on World Health Organization definitions that may not reflect local realities.
Public Engagement and Media Presence
Jabr utilizes mass media to disseminate her views on marginalization and human rights. She has been a frequent guest on Nisaa FM radio and the Al Araby television network. Her columns have appeared in outlets such as the Middle East Monitor and the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. She frequently speaks at institutions including the School of Oriental and African Studies and the Institut de Recherche et d'Études Méditerranée Moyen-Orient, emphasizing the need for a psychological culture that supports national liberation.
Fast facts
- Born: 1976, Jerusalem
- Education: Al-Quds University
- Profession: Psychiatrist, writer
- Ministry of Health Tenure: 2008-2025
- Languages: English, Arabic
- Citizenship: Palestine
Questions readers ask
What is Samah Jabr's perspective on suicide?
She distinguishes between suicide driven by despair and self-sacrifice motivated by hope and altruism for the future of others.
Did Jabr oppose the IARPP conference in Tel Aviv?
Yes, in 2017 she requested the International Association of Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy move their 2019 conference, arguing that hosting it in Tel Aviv provided a shield for Israeli policies.
Achievements
- Held posts at Ministry of Health of Palestine
