Ukrainian refugees in Europe: a crisis in mental health services | Culture and Society | Social issues from the depths of Germany and the Arab world

Experts say the need for mental health care has increased dramatically across Europe as more than five million people have already left Ukraine to experience trauma.

Lucas Wells, executive director of the Federal Association of Psychological Community Centers for Refugees and Torture Victims in Germany (BAfF), estimates that one-third of Ukrainian refugees develop depression, anxiety disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“If the suffering of these people is not addressed through counseling, support and treatment, they can develop chronic illnesses that can result in major health burdens for decades or even lives,” said Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), a German editorial network in Wells.

The number of people suffering from depression is increasing

For his part, IOM President Antonio Vittorino shared a similar assessment earlier this week that in situations of massive displacement, about 30 percent of the population is expected to experience some sort of negative psychological impact. . He said the number would rise “undoubtedly” if the war continued and intensified.

Refugees and immigrants claim to have psychological problems, but they are not always comfortable discussing them.

In early April, post-traumatic stress disorder expert Rita Rosner said the number of Ukrainian refugees exposed to severe psychological trauma and mental health problems would increase in the coming weeks and months.

Rosner, a professor of medical and biological psychology at Catholic University in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, says:

Not enough resources

Lucas Wells appealed to the federal and state governments in Germany and the European Union to provide quick and adequate funding for the psychological and social care of refugees affected by torture and war.

Wells says the number of mental health care providers for refugees in Germany – the largest country in the EU – and the largest number of refugees across Europe – was already low before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now, experts fear that the already long waiting lists will be longer than those of counselors.

“Health is a human right,” Wells said. “However, the vast majority of people in Germany seeking protection from torture, war and persecution are left alone in the face of their traumatic experiences.”

According to Rosner, refugees can also be affected by trauma and find ways to protect themselves.

Assistants are also at risk

Meanwhile, Rita Rosner has also warned about volunteers helping refugees from Ukraine. He said they could be prone to chronic mental health problems.

He added, “Now, everyone watches the news all day. You try to get as much information as possible. But at the same time, you can not do much to change anything. That is why you have to be so careful. You get this message every day.”, He said. As IBD told the news agency

“This also applies to providers,” Rosner continued. “They need breaks, especially for first-time helpers. They need to work harder on themselves and build a safety gate without ending up with violent stress.”

Muhajir News 2022

In the movies, it was like Mariupol, so the war made it an uninhabitable place!

Mariupol before and after the war

Satellite imagery of the coastal city of Mariupol in the southeastern part of Ukraine overlooking the Sea of Azov. The image on the left is from June 2021 and the image on the right is from the Russian military invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022.

In the movies, it was like Mariupol, so the war made it an uninhabitable place!

Mariupol Port

Photo of Mariupol Harbor from October 2018: In addition to the bathing areas with warm water coming out of the ground, this area was a place to relax and picnic. The port of Mariupol was a major economic factor, from where Ukraine exported iron, steel, grain and machinery to the world.

In the movies, it was like Mariupol, so the war made it an uninhabitable place!

Port tunnel after Russian invasion

Two months after the start of the war by Russia, the dock has almost no ships. “All major items in the city’s infrastructure, including the seafront and waterways, have been cut off and entry into the area prohibited,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Interfax News Agency. Today the port of Mariupol is like this.

In the movies, it was like Mariupol, so the war made it an uninhabitable place!

City Park

Kids play under the fountains in downtown Park. This picture was taken on June 20, 2019. The trees are green. The church tower can be seen among the trees in the background of the picture.

In the movies, it was like Mariupol, so the war made it an uninhabitable place!

Stop now

We rediscovered the same church area in other photos. This photo was taken on April 2022. No one can guess that this place was once for relaxation.

In the movies, it was like Mariupol, so the war made it an uninhabitable place!

Mariupol City Theater

Mariupol Theater became very popular during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This photo, taken on August 30, 2014, shows young people fighting against Russian aggression – even at that time there was fighting and tension in eastern Ukraine. But the theater was still a place for cultural encounters and conversations.

In the movies, it was like Mariupol, so the war made it an uninhabitable place!

Theater after the city bombing

Today that place is completely different. This photo shows the scene after the devastating airstrikes by Russian troops in mid-March 2022. Several hundred civilians took refuge in the building, and many more died.

In the movies, it was like Mariupol, so the war made it an uninhabitable place!

“Azovestal” iron and steel complex

At Mariupol, Azovstal is one of the largest iron and steel plants in Europe. The “Azovestal” complex here is mainly made of steel and steel products. In addition to the port, the factory was an important operating center for the people there. Photo taken in 2017.

In the movies, it was like Mariupol, so the war made it an uninhabitable place!

The war turned him into ruins and “garbage”.

The site is now as it was in the aftermath of the Russian bombings. Photo dated April 17, 2022. Ukrainian soldiers stayed for a long time in these factories on the Azovstel campus, where hundreds of people were killed. According to Kiev, there are still 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers on campus. When Putin said they were two thousand, he ordered them not to attack the campus and to encircle the area and be satisfied. The photo here shows a soldier fighting for the Russians.

In the movies, it was like Mariupol, so the war made it an uninhabitable place!

Modern roads and streets

This photo, taken from the summer of 2017, gives a glimpse into the roads and streets of Mariupol before the Russian siege and the bombing of the city.

In the movies, it was like Mariupol, so the war made it an uninhabitable place!

How did you become like Mariupol

The photos now coming to us from Mariupol show the sheer devastation. Almost all the trees were burned and apartments, houses and other buildings were destroyed. Mariupol is no longer a place to live. Produced by (Gerta Herman / Ala Coma)

Author: Ala Coma