In the south and east people are enduring the on-going fighting nearby their homes, in the west displaced families and children are coping to come to terms with their lives being turned around, in the north-central Kyiv region victims of torture are struggling to reintegrate to society; and across the country missile strikes continue to instill fear and despair in people. The war in Ukraine has impacted all aspects of health: especially mental health.
People have experienced fear, trauma and isolation and are showing symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress.
MSF psychologists are responding to mental health needs of patients with psychological first aid, mental health counseling and comprehensive psychological care. In 2023 alone, MSF psychologists have provided more than 8,000 mental health consultations in seven different regions of Ukraine. Near the frontlines and in areas retaken by Ukraine, MSF mobile clinic reach people in the rural areas – many of whom have experienced months of fighting, violence and hostilities.


Most MSF patients in the Kirovohrad region show symptoms related to anxiety or depression. To support them in developing coping skills, MSF psychologists provide both individual and group mental health sessions for children, while supporting the family members. From January 2023 until April, MSF teams provided over 1,000 group sessions to patients in Kirovohrad region, supporting patients with anxiety, intrusive throughts, trauma, and stress management.
In regions near the frontlines such as Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Kherson, MSF teams have responded to the acute psychological needs in the aftermath of missile strikes or other disasters.
For some, one or two mental health counseling sessions isn’t enough. Long-term and specialized care is needed to decrease the chances of developing mental health disorders, preventing further development of symptoms and supporting their abilities to maintain relationships and prevent isolation.
In the Kyiv region, MSF provides comprehensive mental health care to people who have faced torture or ill-treatment. With the help of both group sessions and individual sessions, patients can share their emotions with others who have had similar experiences.