Navigating the Mental Health Impact of Conflict in Ukraine

Throughout Ukraine, MSF psychologists are dedicated to providing tailored psychological support to patients in need. In just the years 2022 and 2023, they delivered a total of 26,324 individual mental health consultations. Some of these consultations took place in mobile clinics that reach out to people in areas recently regained by the Ukrainian army, as well as small villages near conflict zones in regions like Kherson, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, and Kharkiv.

In these areas, where basic needs like clean water, food, and healthcare are often scarce, mental health may take a back seat. With medical facilities destroyed and no medical staff available, the elderly population is particularly vulnerable, unable to leave due to mobility issues. The constant stress and worry can exacerbate existing health problems like cardiovascular disease and insomnia.

MSF psychologists work tirelessly in mobile clinics to educate patients on the importance of mental health and its impact on overall well-being. They provide guidance on improving sleep, managing anxiety and tension, and offer psycho-educational training to communities on stress management. By offering basic techniques and support for mental health, they aim to prevent the onset of health problems and mental disorders.

While group sessions and individual consultations help many patients stabilize their emotions, more complex cases require long-term care. For example, MSF psychologists offered support to survivors of a devastating missile attack in a café in the village of Hroza, Kharkiv Oblast, in eastern Ukraine in October 2023. The shelling resulted in tragic losses for each of the 15 families residing in the village, a small community of just 330 residents according to authorities and the UN.