Possibly the most damaging legacy of the war in Ukraine is its impact on mental health, which is on a scale unprecedented in Europe since the end of the Second World War. According to Care International close to 10 million people are potentially at risk of mental disorders such as acute stress, anxiety, depression, substance use and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
Globally, the United Nation estimates that about one in five people in conflict settings have a mental health condition. The situation in Ukraine is no exception. In a study published by the Lancet Journal an estimated 22% of the Ukraine population that is currently living in areas affected by conflict will, at any time during the next 10-year period, likely have some form of mental health challenge – with one in 10 suffering from a moderate or severe condition like depression with suicidal behavior or psychosis.
People with pre-existing mental health conditions who previously relied on public mental health and social care are facing additional challenges in accessing the services they need. However, there is nowhere in Ukraine and in the shelters that house survivors, that is untouched and affected by anxiety or sadness, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, anger and unexplained somatic symptoms.
These are all normal reactions to abnormal situations and for most people these symptoms do improve over time, especially if they can meet their basic needs and access social support.
World Cares Center’s Impact
At the beginning of the war in Ukraine World Cares Center immediately implemented a Ukraine Service Providers Roundtable to provide a forum for discussion and collaboration amongst services providers supporting incoming refugees. The Roundtable continues to be a source of support and connection to resources today, connecting groups to funding and services, as well as providing our resiliency workbooks to guide children and their parents through the grief and trauma they have suffered.
In July of 2022 WCC’s Team deployed to Lviv and set up “MedPut’s” loosely translated as Medical Clinics in six refugee camps. Our team provided medical care for all refugees including specialty care for women and children. In addition to our own MedPut’s, WCC donated and delivered medication, supplies, new clothing and art therapy booklets to our Ukraine partners on the ground in Lviv and beyond.
Integrated in the program, our resiliency specialists developed a healing journal for children and guide for parents from our original 9/11 Band Aid For Healing. Band Aid for Healing is a children’s coloring book first distributed during the 9-11-2001 Relief Effort and subsequently translated into several languages to help child survivors manage their trauma and grief. The combination of providing both medical care and resiliency workshops was outstanding. The trust that was built and the services that were provided were healing for those that participated. World Cares Center delivered workshops with families and children and distributed close to 1000 healing materials.
WCC’s team deployments continue to Lviv providing check ups to those we treated in July of 2022 and serving additional refugees through medical care and resiliency workshops. During this trip we will work with local NGO’s and Universities to provide train the trainer sessions to expand our Resiliency work by empowering Ukrainian student and provider to deliver the program.
Funds are needed to support and expand this program as the war continues and its gruesome impact grows.
Please join our list of generous sponsors including Johnson and Johnson, Direct Relief, OAT NY, Dollhouse, and Alfred Dunner and private donors for their support.
