The War in Ukraine: Impact on Mental Health on a Global Level

Editorial

25 July 2023

Editorial: The war in Ukraine: impact on mental health on a global level

Mona Vintilă

Argyroula Kalaitzaki

Maria Nicoleta Turliuc

Cosmin Goian

and

Otilia Ioana Tudorel

2,775 views

5 citations

Editors

Mona Vintilă

West University of Timișoara

Argyroula Kalaitzaki

Hellenic Mediterranean University

Otilia I Tudorel

West University of Timișoara

Maria Nicoleta Turliuc

Alexandru Ioan Cuza University

Cosmin Goian

West University of Timișoara

Impact

Frequency and relevancy of traumatic life events according to LEC-5.

Original Research

27 July 2023

The mental health impact of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war 6 months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Anton Kurapov

, 3 more and

Tobias Kowatsch

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine on the mental health of Ukrainians, focusing on war-induced trauma, disturbances in self-organization, post-traumatic stress disorder, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, stress, and depression.

Methods: Data was collected from 703 participants 6 months after the full-scale invasion using a structured questionnaire that included sections on socio-demographic information, trauma-related issues, and mental health.

Results: The study found that levels of depression and anxiety were relatively low, while stress and resilience were relatively high among Ukrainians affected by the war. However, those who were directly exposed to military actions, physical violence, or severe human suffering had higher levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma-related symptoms. The war experience varied by gender, age, and living conditions. Participants who stayed in Ukraine had significantly lower anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma-related symptoms compared to those who moved abroad. Anxiety, depression, stress, low resilience, and subjective satisfaction with living conditions were predictors of trauma-related symptoms, including PTSD and CPTSD.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the mental health of Ukrainians affected by the war was impacted differently depending on their level of exposure to violence and their living conditions. Additionally, the study identified several predictors of trauma-related symptoms, including PTSD and CPTSD, such as anxiety, depression, stress, low resilience, and subjective satisfaction with living conditions. Future research should further explore the relationships between trauma type, sociodemographic factors, resilience, stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD and CPTSD to better understand the mediation mechanisms underlying these relationships and to develop effective interventions to support the well-being of Ukrainians during this difficult time.

10,841 views

53 citations

Study Protocol

13 March 2023

The impact of the war in Ukraine on the perinatal period: Perinatal mental health for refugee women (pmh-rw) protocol

Maria F. Rodríguez-Muñoz

, 8 more and

Huynh-Nhu Le

5,721 views

19 citations

Brief Research Report

18 April 2023

School-based mental health screenings with Ukrainian adolescent refugees in Germany: Results from a pilot study

Claudia Catani

, 4 more and

Frank Neuner

4,404 views

19 citations

Brief Research Report

15 March 2023

Envisioning the future for families running away from war: Challenges and resources of Ukrainian parents in Italy

Patrizio Paoletti

, 5 more and

Tania Di Giuseppe

3,588 views

17 citations

Original Research

26 May 2023

The impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the mental health of Italian people after 2 years of the pandemic: risk and protective factors as moderators

Francesca Mottola

, 3 more and

Ida Sergi

4,749 views

13 citations

Original Research

12 May 2023

Fake news during the war in Ukraine: coping strategies and fear of war in the general population of Romania and in aid workers

Mona Vintilă

, 3 more and

Cosmin Goian

4,660 views

7 citations

Review

17 February 2023

Life and mental health in limbo of the Ukraine war: How can helpers assist civilians, asylum seekers and refugees affected by the war?

Gulnaz Anjum

, 1 more and

Hadar Khasrow Hamid

The terror spread by the war disrupts lives and severs families, leaving individuals and communities devastated. People are left to fend for themselves on multiple levels, especially psychologically. It is well documented that war adversely affects non-combatant civilians, both physically and psychologically. However, how the war puts civilians’ lives in a limbo is an under-researched area. This paper focuses on three aspects: (1) how the mental health and well-being of Ukrainian civilians, asylum seekers, and refugees are affected by the war caused limbo; (2) what factors affect this process of being stuck in the limbo of war; and (3) how psychologists and helpers in the war-ridden and host countries can provide meaningful support. Based on the authors’ own practical work with Ukrainian civilians, refugees, and professional helpers during the war, this paper provides an overview of multi-level factors that impact human psyches in a war, and possible ways to help those who are living in the war limbo. In this research and experiential learning-based review, we offer some helpful strategies, action plans, and resources for the helpers including psychologists, counselors, volunteers, and relief workers. We emphasize that the effects of war are neither linear nor equal for all civilians and refugees. Some will recover and return to a routine life while others will experience panic attacks, trauma, depression, and even PTSD, which can also surface much later and can prolong over the years. Hence, we provide experience-based ways of dealing with short-term and prolonged trauma of living with war and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health professionals and other helpers in Ukraine and in host countries can use these helping strategies and resources to provide effective support for Ukrainians and for war refugees in general.

15,840 views

40 citations