Mental Health & Ukraine: How the Situation is Affecting Refugees
Due to the highly stressful nature of the war in Ukraine, it’s not surprising that refugees fleeing the country are having issues with their mental health. More than 3 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion on February 24th, forced to leave behind homes and family members without knowing what lies ahead. Being in this type of situation puts one in survival mode, a near-constant state of fight or flight. Because of this, according to doctors from the U.S. and Europe who have volunteered to help, many refugees are reporting symptoms of acute stress disorder. Dr. Craig Katz, a clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told ABC News that “acute stress disorder is basically a fight-or-flight reaction that lasts a few days to a month and involves having been exposed to a threat to your life or limb and not being able to stop thinking about it." Katz added that being in this type of mode can cause problems sleeping and loss of appetite.
Being affected even harder by the crisis are children. "Every child in [Ukraine] is now experiencing multiple adverse childhood events, and that is one of the uncounted casualties that will ripple throughout generations," said Dr. Dan Schnorr, an emergency medicine physician with Doctors Without Borders. Unfortunately, refugees are at risk of suffering lasting effects from the trauma they are experiencing now, but there are ways for those on the ground to help. The aforementioned Dr. Craig Katz says, "Psychological first aid is a way to attend to people's mental health scratches and bruises so that they don't become festering wounds. You make sure people feel safe and secure, make sure they have meals to eat, you especially make sure they -- as much as you can -- they are together with loved ones or have some sort of communication that has support.”
Many who are watching the situation unfold from afar are also dealing with feelings of stress and hopelessness, wishing there was some way to help. Seeing images of a war-stricken Ukraine on the 24 hour news cycle and social media can compound those feelings. Although it’s good to be informed, too much exposure isn’t doing anything to help. It may be helpful to take scheduled breaks from the news and social media whenever possible to give yourself time to decompress. You can also donate to relief efforts such as the Ukrainian Red Cross and World Central Kitchen. Check out a more extensive list of organizations to donate to here.
Do your best in this challenging time and remember to take care of yourself.