Charity supporting thousands of Ukrainian refugees suffering with PTSD and anxiety
A charity is providing psychological support to thousands of Ukrainian refugees in the UK suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.
Opora acts as a mental health support hub for Ukrainians who have settled in the UK since fleeing the war-torn country in February 2022.
It provides resources including a psychological support channel on Telegram, a mental health workbook and an interactive map of psychological support services for Ukrainians located in the UK.
An estimated one-third of Ukrainian refugees are expected to develop depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorders, according to a recent study by Care International.
However, cultural and linguistic barriers can make it difficult for many Ukrainians to access psychological help through the NHS.
Yulia Huba, project coordinator at Opora's Mental Health Team, told the Standard: "Ukraine doesn't have a system like the NHS, so from the start it was difficult for people to access services. Not all Ukrainians speak English at a level to express their feelings and that can also be a barrier. What we are trying to do is bridge a gap."
She added: "Mental health is still a huge stigma in Ukraine, and it is not easy for people to get help. We need to talk more about it, to tell people that it is 'okay not to be okay'.
"Therapy changed my life some time ago, so now I want to help people from my home country to cope with this challenge."
Ms Huba said that symptoms of PTSD can often arise in daily life for many Ukrainians who have recent memories of it.
"One woman told us that she became scared every time a plane flew overhead. These are things that can often go undetected, even two years after the beginning of the war."
A total of 9.6 million people are estimated to be at risk of or living with a mental health condition in Ukraine, according to the World Health Organisation.
Stan Beneš, managing director at Opora, said that the uncertainty of the direction of the war and when it will be safe for Ukrainians to return to their homes had a significant mental health impact.
"For many people there is no clarity about their future. Many know they can stay in the UK for slightly longer but there is still that anxiety hanging over them of where they will go next."
"Another variable is dealing with the tensions between people who have stayed and those who have left, which is intensifying as time goes on."
Opora partners with Mindstep for Ukraine, an app, to help deliver mental health services.
Mindstep for Ukraine provides displaced Ukrainians with access to gold-standard assessments and tools for neurological and mental health conditions. It currently has more than 230,000 users in the UK.
It has has been used to to address a diverse spectrum of health challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees in UK including anxiety, depression, brain fog, headaches, and concussion.
