MSF Psychologists Bring hope to Ukrainian Communities with Individualized Psychological Support in Challenging Times

MSF psychologists in Ukraine offer customized psychological support to patients based on their individual needs. In 2022 and 2023, they delivered a total of 26,324 mental health consultations. These consultations took place in mobile clinics that provide medical and psychological care to people in areas that have been retaken by the Ukrainian army as well as small villages near conflict zones in the Kherson, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, and Kharkiv regions.

In these regions, where basic needs such as clean water, food, healthcare, and utilities are often prioritized over mental health due to destruction and lack of medical staff. The elderly population in these regions faces unique challenges due to mobility issues, which can exacerbate existing health problems such as cardiovascular disease and insomnia.

MSF psychologists in mobile clinics educate patients on the importance of mental health and how it affects their overall well-being. They offer advice on improving sleep quality, managing anxiety and tension and provide psycho-educational training to communities on dealing with stress. These basic techniques and support can help prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease and mental disorders.

While group psychoeducation sessions and individual consultations can help stabilize the emotional state of many patients, more complex cases may require long-term support. For example, MSF psychologists offered psychological assistance to survivors of a missile attack on a café in the village of Hroza, Kharkiv Oblast in early October 2023. The attack resulted in the loss of loved ones for each of the 15 families residing in the village according to authorities and the UN.