Follow us
Donate

Focus on

Mental health in times of armed conflicts and global crisis

Managing your mental health during the Ukraine crisis

The availability of mental health and psychosocial support is crucial. First level interventions including “trauma informed” programmes should become available immediately to offer coping strategies and strengthen resilience. When designing mental health interventions in places affected by conflict, the limited-service provision and reluctance to access mental health services must be addressed as a matter of priority. MHE is making useful guides available on how to look after your mental health during armed conflicts and exile.

READ MORE

The war in Ukraine can have devastating long-term consequences on the mental health of children and young people

Children and young people are bearing the invisible wounds of the conflict in Ukraine. Mental Health Europe (MHE) is very troubled by the evolving situation in Ukraine and how the conflict is impacting children, adolescents, young people, and their families.

READ MORE

Ukraine crisis: 6 ways to look after your mental health in times of armed conflicts and global crisis  

In light of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, Mental Health Europe reminds you that taking care of your mental health should be a priority. It is only normal to feel overwhelmed by the news coverage about Ukraine even from across the globe. Here are some tips to support and protect one’s mental health in these troubling times. Good mental health and positive wellbeing can help you better cope with all the uncertainty.

READ MORE

Following ongoing discussions with our members, MHE has launched this new web page to address the mental health challenges being faced by Ukrainians (those in the country and in exile), those who are supporting them as well as those that will start to suffer from secondary trauma. This is a living web page and the information will be further enhanced. In the future, the page will feature the remarkable work being done by many mental health carers and psychosocial services across Europe, providing support to everyone traumatised by war.

Mental health and psychosocial support in countries neighbouring Ukraine

Specific information on mental health services catering to refugees from Ukraine

BULGARIA

  • SKIN (Mental Health NGO) in Bulgaria is offering free mental health support and consultations for people fleeing Ukraine. A centralised page and platform in Bulgaria for mental health requests (in Ukranian, English and Bulgiarian) providing services by psychologists trained in crisis intervention and mental health first aid paired with translators. They also organise webinars with acclaimed mental halth specialists with experience working with refugees/survivors.  

HUNGARY

LATVIA

LITHUANIA

MOLDOVA

Asociaţia Obştească “Asociaţia Raională de Educare a Adulţilor Prutul de Sus” (AO AREAP)

Tel:  +373 69820671

Email: mdareap@gmail.com

Website: www.areap.md

POLAND

ROMANIA

SLOVAKIA

UKRAINE

  • Ukraine Teenergizer ½ Онлайн-консультации Teenergizer  

https://teenergizer.org/consultations  

 

  • Lifeline Ukraine ½ Лінія запобігання самогубствам  

https://lifelineukraine.com  

✆ 7333  

 

  • Samopomi (in Ukrainian)  

www.samopomi.ch  

Telegram  

Facebook  

 

Helplines and services to support your mental health in times of global crisis

ECD588F2-166C-489E-85F2-79F7039CD551

Mental Health Europe (MHE) created a map of helplines and services to support your mental health in times of global crisis (i.e. Coronavirus pandemic, Ukraine crisis). Information from 36 European countries was gathered with the valuable support of MHE members and the European Federation of Psychology Students' Associations (EFPSA) as well as MHE Members throughout Europe. In a few clicks, this interactive map will help you find more details on helplines and services providing mental health care.

FIND OUT MORE

European and International Resources

WHO

MHE is supporting WHO Europe in mapping mental health services in neighbouring countries and this information will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

The European Commission

The European Commission has created a European network on ‘Supporting Ukraine, neighbouring EU Member States and Moldova’ in the EU Health Policy Platform. The aim is to coordinate the efforts by health stakeholders to support Ukraine and neighbouring countries, and exchange information. The network is intended as a communication platform helping to make better use of the already existing resources. This could help the efforts already undertaken by the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. MHE is part of this Network. All stakeholders in the health field can join the Network.

Resources and Support

How to handle the trauma of war from afar   

  

It is only normal to feel overwhelmed by the news coverage about Ukraine even from across the globe. Below are some guides and tips to support and protect one’s mental health in these troubling times. This list will be updated on a regular basis.  

 

Mental Health Europe: Paper on Mental health and geopolitical crises: Ukraine and beyond (October 2022)

Link to the paper.

   

Save the Children: Ways to talk to children about the conflict in Ukraine   

https://www.savethechildren.net/news/ukraine-5-ways-talk-children-about-conflict-0   

  

Place2Be (UK children’s mental health charity): Talking to children and young people about war and conflict  

https://www.place2be.org.uk/about-us/news-and-blogs/2022/march/talking-to-children-and-young-people-about-war-and-conflict/  

  

Mieli: What can you do if talk of war worries you?  

https://mieli.fi/en/news/what-can-you-do-if-talk-of-war-worries-you/   

  

Emergency Briefing Kit by the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Network:  

https://app.mhpss.net/resources/   

 

‘How can I help my traumatised child?’ by Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer (BPtK) – Available in English, German, Russian, Arabic, Kurd:

https://elternratgeber-fluechtlinge.de/en/

  

Sendung mit der Maus (German children’s series) tips for coping with the Ukraine crisis:  

https://twitter.com/DieMaus/status/1499010502005075981?s=20&t=UZzcFH4KvgNRIKbjwHolMw   

 

BBC News: Children tied up and men in cots:

“Our children with disabilities should not be hidden away from society, behind these high walls.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-62226636

World Health Organisation
(WHO)

Ukraine Emergency

European

Commission 

(EC)

EU Health Policy Platform

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

E-Learning on Migration and Health for Health Professionals (24 languages)

This webpage will be regularly updated as new information and support initiatives become available. In case you would like to contact MHE to share any additional information such as helplines for mental health support, or would like to volunteer (English, Ukrainian, Russian speaking psychologists), please contact us by email: info@mhe-sme.org

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MENTAL HEALTH EUROPE

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive information about our work and future events