MHPSS in Ukraine

Historic, Economic, Sociological, Anthropological factors

The first part of the review describes historical, economic, sociological and anthropological factors essential to a basic understanding of Ukraine and the Ukrainian population. It discusses historic factors that have contributed to both collective and transgenerational trauma, which have in turn affected Ukrainian communities’ coping and help seeking behaviours to the present day. It also includes a review of factors, such as:

• the basic epidemiology of mental illness
• common beliefs about mental illness
• explanatory models
• idioms of distress
• help seeking behaviour
• the relationship with religion

Overview of Mental Health Services 

The second part of the review focuses on an overview of mental health and mental health services collected through key informant interviews with local MHPSS technical working group co-chairs and coordinators.

Challenges, Opportunities and Recommendations 

The review concludes with an overview of key findings, including best practices and gaps in the current state of MHPSS in Ukraine with respect to geographical locations. It provides recommendations to strengthen and scale up MHPSS services and to improve systems of mental health provision that can support Ukrainian communities within the current context of ongoing war and post-war recovery.