The phase of the psychological mobilization of Ukrainians caused by the war continues, the subjective assessment of the psychological state is quite high, according to the results of a study organized by the Mindi Charitable Foundation.
This conclusion was made by the authors of the study “The psychological state of the population of Ukraine in conditions of a full-scale war”, conducted by Kantar Ukraine, said Svetlana Chunikhina, deputy director of the Institute of Social and Political Psychology of the NAPS of Ukraine, at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
At the same time, it is specified that the research methodology was developed by the Institute of Social and Political Psychology, and UAF Coin provided financial support.
“Despite the circumstances of the war, the subjective assessment of the psychological well-being of Ukrainians is quite high – 6.7 points out of 9 possible. This is typical for all demographic groups and regions, but the subjective assessment of psychological well-being among internally displaced persons who continue to be evacuated is lower than among those who have not been displaced or have already returned home,” the deputy director said.
At the same time, according to Chunikhina, “resources for further support of psychological mobilization in society may not be enough.”
She noted that, according to the study, 40% of the respondents were threatened with their own lives and / or were direct witnesses of such threats in connection with their stay in the war zone and / or under shelling. More than 41% of citizens have relatives or loved ones who were or are in the combat zone, including 16% who have lost someone close to them.
“6% of respondents were under occupation, were subjected to a direct threat of violence or witnessed such threats. Every twentieth respondent (5%) was subjected to hypercumulative traumatization – that is, he experienced or witnessed all of the indicated types of traumatic events: shelling, threats to the lives of loved ones, occupation or captivity “, said the expert.
In addition, the study showed that more than 90% of respondents had manifestations of at least one of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and 57% of citizens are at risk of developing PTSD.
Chunikhina noted that “despite the subjective optimistic assessment of her own condition, objective indicators cause concern.”
Thus, during the last month, only 3% of respondents received psychological assistance, and another 23% would like to see a psychologist, but have not yet realized this desire.
At the same time, according to Chunikhina, barriers to obtaining psychological support for Ukrainians are, in particular, the habit of not seeking psychological help, as well as financial barriers.
“The financial barrier is not a surprise. A third of respondents believe that psychological assistance is expensive. About 30% of respondents are ready to receive it only on a gratuitous basis,” she said.
In turn, Oleksandra Mashkevich, Director General of the Medical Services Directorate of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, said that, according to the calculations of the Ministry of Health, in the post-war period, more than 15.7 million Ukrainians will face psychological problems, and 3.5 million people will need therapy and support from medical specialists. – psychiatrists, and about 800 thousand Ukrainians will need medical support.
She also indicated that the Ministry of Health will use the data obtained during the study to design and develop a psychological support program.
“We are conducting an in-depth audit of the system at the Ministry of Health – how many specialists in psychological care we have, these are both psychiatrists and psychologists. We conduct an audit on the methods by which psychologists work in Ukraine in order to further standardize these methods,” she said. .
In addition, according to Mashkevich, the Ministry of Health is studying mechanisms for including psychological assistance in primary care services under the Medical Guarantee Program (PMG).
