Dr. Alexandr Dovgan & Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge 

Complex traumatic events are associated with armed conflict (Coventry et al., 2020), and it has a possible impact on mental health. These conflicts can cause physical, psychological, mental, and spiritual consequences for people (Moreno-Chaparro et al., 2022). Armed conflicts extinguish the social fabric and cause economic and cultural repercussions.  Moreno-Chaparro and team report (2022) that a high prevalence of mental disorders has been reported in areas affected by armed conflicts. As indicated by Carpiniello (2023), women and children are the most vulnerable to the outcome of armed conflicts. 

The Ukrainian War began in February 2014.  War in Ukraine has caused drastic negative consequences on physical and mental health with devastating effects at the individual and community level.  People living in war-torn regions of Ukraine are at a mental health risk. Many of them have witnessed deaths, suffered property losses, and some of them have become direct victims of war-related violence such as rape and torture. These events have caused negative outcomes for their mental health and social functioning. The war has become a collective trauma for the Ukrainians.

War-related anxiety, stress, and trauma have become the perilous factors in Ukraine.  A large number of Ukrainians have become refugees across Europe, and one-third of the population has been displaced within Ukraine as internal refugees (Vintilă et al., 2023). According to Kurapov and colleagues (2022), war in Ukraine has caused many mental health problems. People are experiencing multiple traumas and other cumulative stresses on a daily basis.  Osokina and team (2023) point out that war trauma has caused psychological distress in adolescents living in a war-torn region in Ukraine. As described by Fel and team (2022) women living in the war-torn areas in Ukraine are at a higher risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  

People affected by war trauma often show mistrust, social withdrawal, and feelings of emptiness and hopelessness. In some instances, drastic personality changes can be identified. They can experience depression, anxiety, complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), somatic complaints, pain-related problems, panic attacks, insomnia, etc. Some go into negative stress coping methods such as heavy alcohol abuse or substance abuse. War victims who exhibit social isolation, suicidal attempts, rage, agitation, extreme confusion, dissociation, and psychotic symptoms urgently need professional help.

Culturally sensitive mental health care efforts are essential to heal the war trauma in Ukraine.  In this context, an interdisciplinary approach to trauma healing is imperative. Immediate and long-term robust psychosocial interventions should be established with psychosocial interventions. A range of psychotherapeutic interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), and narrative exposure therapy (NET) can be used to treat the war victims. 

Lazarus and Folkman (1984) indicate the emotion-focused coping strategies to reduce or control negative emotions, such as anxiety. These interventions foster healing and posttraumatic growth. Existential therapy is also an important intervention in war trauma, and it acknowledges the intangible impacts of trauma on meaning, mortality, and identity. The therapists can use mindfulness techniques to improve outcomes after war trauma.

In war situations, creating a sense of safety is highly vital (Hobfoll et al. 2007). Almoshmosh and colleagues (2016) highlight that social connectedness is important to restore normal interaction and well-being. Moreover, community solidarity activities can curb further damage from war trauma (Anjum et al., 2023). Providing hope for the war victims can reduce their emotional suffering, and it enhances self-efficacy, resilience, personal growth, and mental well-being (Snyder, 2002). 

Ukrainian war victims are experiencing psychological distress and emotional suffering.  These psychological scars take a long time to heal. Moreover, trauma can be handed down from generation to generation. Therefore, trauma healing and building resilience are crucial for the Ukrainian war victims.

References

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