
Before the Toils of War: Mental Health in Ukraine
The mental health of Ukrainians is essential, now more than ever.
Ukraine has become the center of global attention as
Dregs of a Previous Era
In comparison to other countries,
These barriers to care may be a result of the country’s
“…We are looking at a professional field that has far from recovered from Soviet rule, is lagging far behind in the understanding of, and adhering to international human rights standards and professional ethics, is rampant with corruption (eg, by selling false diagnoses) and is strongly influenced by the pharmaceutical industry that is in fact only interested in commercial gain,” wrote Van Voren.4
Additionally, Ukrainians may not trust mental health professionals because of reports of negative encounters from their community members.2 The high stigma and shame may prevent people from seeking care, or force them to do so anonymously, as they fear being negatively labelled by their communities, and thus reduce their chances of employment opportunities.2
The lack of understanding and awareness around mental illness further intensifies stigma. Individuals can struggle to distinguish the level of care needed for their mental disorder and may assume that any diagnosis will result in hospitalization.2
WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health
In 2020, Ukraine was chosen as a priority country for the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Special Initiative for Mental Health. The initiative has helped build a renewed political commitment to mental health policy, expansion of services, and a growing public interest in mental health.5
Unfortunately, as is the case for the entire world,
“Ukraine is well-situated to continue along the trajectory of transformations around mental health. Consistent implementation of the national policies and plans related to mental health may facilitate improved wellbeing of the population across the lifespan, greater treatment coverage, as well as promote respect and dignity of people with mental health conditions,” wrote WHO investigators.1
However, the investigators also pointed out, “The protracted conflict in eastern Ukraine followed by humanitarian crisis has led to negative consequences for population's wellbeing, and the need for mental health and psychosocial support remain high. However, these events have also raised public interest in mental health issues, pushed the reforms in many sectors and brought a number of evidence-based practices introduced by international organizations.”1
Do you have first-hand experience with mental health care in the Ukraine that you can share with your colleagues and readers of Psychiatric TimesTM? Write to us at
References
1. Ukraine WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health situational assessment. World Health Organization, University of Washington. July 2020. Accessed February 28, 2022.
2. Mental health in transition: assessment and guidance for strengthening integration of mental health into primary health care and community-based service platforms in Ukraine. World Bank Group. 2017. Accessed February 28, 2022.
3. Romaniuk P, Semigina T.
4. Van Voren R. Psychiatry as a tool for coercion in post-Soviet countries. European Parliament Directorate General for External Policies. 2003. Accessed February 28, 2022.
5. Mental health in Ukraine. Yale Institute for Global Health. 2021. Accessed February 28, 2022.
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