Experts call for immediate access to mental health support on arrival and express concerns around the lack of specialist support available to deal with high-level trauma.
Mental health experts warn that many Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine will need urgent mental health support and that that they should be given immediate access when they reach the UK. There are also calls for further investment in mental health services and concerns that there is a lack of specialist support and training to deal with the high-level trauma that refugees may be experiencing.
Jonathan Bisson, professor of psychiatry at Cardiff University, told The Guardian: “Depending on where you are in Ukraine, at the moment you may be experiencing, absolutely catastrophic, direct, traumatic events occurring: loss of homes, having no electricity, no water, deaths of people around you, being injured yourself… And if that’s not happening to you, or your town, or where you live at the moment, then clearly there must be a major fear that that will happen in the near future.”
Worried that this could further develop into mental health problems, he stressed the importance of Ukrainians feeling supported during this crisis and that they are given support access straight away. He emphasised short-, medium- and long-term mental health care, and said that conditions for treating post-traumatic stress disorder are often best once those who need treatment are settled and stable, which can be months or years after the traumatic event takes place.
“Establishing people in communities, getting community support, establishing good social networks for people and with people – these are absolutely fundamental to people’s longer-term prospects in terms of their mental health and wellbeing,” he said.
Dr Noreen Tehrani from the crisis, disaster and trauma section of the British Psychological Society, echoed Bisson’s concerns. She emphasised the importance of refugees feeling safe, explaining that refugees should be housed and placed in families, rather than in refugee camps.
Dr Tehrani also raised concern that there was a lack of specialist support and training to deal with high-level trauma. “There is the concern that lots of well-meaning but untrained counsellors and other kind people will want to help, but for refugees with a high level of trauma, it is possible to do more harm when you don’t understand exactly what is needed.” She said it would be helpful if information was provided to people sheltering refugees, schools, GPs and youth organisations about what to expect, including the possibility of mental health struggles.
“The government must also urgently focus on improving conditions for refugees, including increasing access to mental health support,” added Dr Adrian James, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The government has pledged to provide free NHS healthcare for all Ukrainian refugees, including mental health services. “Arrivals will be signposted to services including 24/7 mental health helplines available in every area, and information on accessing NHS services including talking therapies,” a spokesperson for the government told The Guardian.
However, some warn this won’t be enough. Kama Petruczenko, policy and research officer at the Refugee Council, said “…there is an urgent need for more investment in mental health support for refugees” and said it was essential that “funding is at the right level to meet needs as soon as people start to arrive”. She pointed out that two-thirds of people seeking asylum experience serious mental distress and are five times more likely to have mental health needs than the UK population.
If you are looking for support with your mental health, you can find local sources of support through this website
See below guides to trauma translated into Ukrainian.
