- Introduction
- Background of the Conflict
- Psychological Effects of War
- Impact on Different Populations
- Cultural and Societal Factors
- Mental Health Systems Under Strain
- Interventions and Coping Mechanisms
- Long-Term Consequences
- Conclusion
- References
- Report Compiler
- Disclaimer
Armed conflict leaves profound and lasting impacts on mental health. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, initiated in 2014 and dramatically intensified in 2022, has resulted in catastrophic human loss, mass displacement, and psychological trauma on an unprecedented scale (World Health Organization [WHO], 2023). Civilians, soldiers, refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the wider societies of both Russia and Ukraine are grappling with complex mental health challenges, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and grief.
This paper examines the mental health consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war across different demographics and contexts. It explores the underlying factors influencing mental health outcomes, the burden on healthcare systems, the societal implications, and emerging interventions, all while highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive, long-term mental health strategies.
2. Background of the Conflict
The Russia-Ukraine conflict began with the annexation of Crimea in 2014, followed by prolonged unrest in eastern Ukraine. In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion, triggering the largest conflict in Europe since World War II (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR], 2024). As of 2024, the conflict has led to approximately 14 million people being displaced (Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre [IDMC], 2024), with devastating effects on both physical infrastructure and psychological well-being.
The prolonged nature of the war, combined with atrocities against civilians, forced conscriptions, economic collapse, and political repression, creates a complex and multifaceted mental health crisis that affects all layers of society.
3. Psychological Effects of War
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is one of the most common and severe mental health outcomes associated with exposure to armed conflict. Symptoms include intrusive memories, nightmares, emotional numbness, and hyperarousal (American Psychiatric Association, 2022).
A 2023 study conducted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Health estimated that nearly 30% of civilians exposed to frontline violence displayed clinical symptoms of PTSD. Among Ukrainian soldiers, rates are estimated to be even higher, with approximately 40% experiencing symptoms consistent with combat-related PTSD (Loganovsky et al., 2023).
In Russia, returning soldiers and their families are also reporting high rates of PTSD, although official data is limited due to government restrictions on independent research (International Crisis Group, 2023).
- Depression and Anxiety
The experience of war — including loss of loved ones, destruction of homes, unemployment, and uncertain futures — is strongly associated with depression and anxiety disorders (WHO, 2022). In Ukraine, 70% of respondents in a 2023 national survey reported symptoms of moderate to severe depression (Global Mental Health Network, 2023).
Russian civilians, too, face mental health strain. Anxiety about forced conscription, economic instability, and censorship are significant stressors, particularly among younger demographics opposed to the war (Levada Center, 2024).
- Complex Grief and Bereavement
War-related deaths often occur violently and suddenly, complicating the normal process of grieving. Complicated grief or Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is prevalent among families separated by war, those who lose loved ones without the opportunity for closure, and survivors of mass atrocities (Killikelly & Maercker, 2018).
In Ukraine, countless families have lost multiple generations simultaneously, further intensifying communal and individual grief processes.
4. Impact on Different Populations
- Civilians
The civilian population endures relentless psychological hardship. In regions such as Mariupol, Kharkiv, and Bucha, survivors have been exposed to war crimes, torture, and extensive urban destruction (Human Rights Watch, 2023). Symptoms reported include insomnia, survivor’s guilt, emotional numbness, and hypervigilance.
A survey by UNICEF (2023) found that 60% of Ukrainian civilians interviewed expressed significant psychological distress, with many fearing they may never feel safe again.
In Russia, civilians suffer differently, grappling with the psychological burden of authoritarianism, censorship, and internalized guilt associated with their country’s actions.
- Soldiers and Veterans
Combatants on both sides face uniquely acute psychological risks. Extended exposure to combat, witnessing death and injury, and moral injury—feelings of guilt or betrayal related to wartime actions—are common among both Ukrainian defenders and Russian conscripts.
Veterans often encounter difficulties reintegrating into civilian life, with symptoms of PTSD, substance abuse, and suicide rates increasing post-deployment (National Center for PTSD, 2022).
- Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
Forced migration compounds trauma exposure. Refugees fleeing Ukraine, primarily to neighboring countries like Poland, Romania, and Germany, report high levels of psychological distress (UNHCR, 2024).
IDPs within Ukraine face additional challenges: scarcity of resources, overcrowded shelters, and ongoing proximity to conflict zones. The inability to plan for the future exacerbates anxiety and depressive symptoms (International Organization for Migration [IOM], 2023).
- Children and Adolescents
Children are among the most vulnerable groups. Exposure to bombings, loss of caregivers, displacement, and interrupted education profoundly disrupt developmental processes (Save the Children, 2023).
Psychological symptoms in children include nightmares, regressive behaviors, emotional outbursts, concentration difficulties, and even suicidal ideation. Without early intervention, these issues risk becoming chronic, affecting educational attainment and social integration for decades to come (UNICEF, 2023).
5. Cultural and Societal Factors
- Stigma Around Mental Health
Both Russian and Ukrainian societies have traditionally stigmatized mental health conditions, seeing them as signs of personal weakness rather than medical concerns (Bojanowska et al., 2022).
This stigma presents a significant barrier to seeking treatment, particularly among men and veterans, who may perceive psychological distress as dishonorable.
Efforts by NGOs and international organizations have helped challenge these narratives, but systemic stigma remains a formidable obstacle.
- Collective Trauma
The war has induced a sense of collective trauma—where entire communities or nations experience and process suffering together (Hirschberger, 2018). In Ukraine, this collective experience has galvanized national solidarity but has also led to communal grief and existential questioning about the future of the nation.
In Russia, collective trauma manifests more diffusely, complicated by state-sponsored narratives, societal division, and internalized guilt.
6. Mental Health Systems Under Strain
- Ukraine’s Healthcare System
Prior to the war, Ukraine’s mental health system was already under-resourced and centralized in Soviet-era institutions. The full-scale invasion exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, with hospitals being destroyed, healthcare workers fleeing, and supply chains disrupted (WHO, 2023).
Mental health services are unevenly distributed, with rural and frontline regions particularly underserved. Mobile units, digital platforms, and community-based initiatives have partially mitigated the gaps but cannot meet the enormous demand (IOM, 2023).
- Russia’s Healthcare System
In Russia, mental health services are tightly controlled by the state. Public trust in psychiatric institutions remains low due to historical abuses during the Soviet era. Although private and online therapy markets have grown, wartime censorship and fear of political repression further inhibit help-seeking behavior (Amnesty International, 2023).
Moreover, the Kremlin’s portrayal of psychological distress as disloyalty or weakness discourages both civilians and veterans from accessing support.
7. Interventions and Coping Mechanisms
- Trauma-Informed Care
Programs adopting trauma-informed care principles—recognizing the pervasive impact of trauma and prioritizing psychological safety, trust, and empowerment—have gained traction in Ukraine (Mental Health for Ukraine [MH4U], 2023).
Training healthcare workers, teachers, and first responders in trauma-sensitive approaches has improved service delivery, even in resource-constrained environments.
- Telepsychiatry and Digital Mental Health Platforms
With many traditional clinics destroyed or inaccessible, telemedicine has become a vital lifeline. Services such as "Tell Me" in Ukraine and anonymous platforms like "Svoi" in Russia offer free, confidential psychological support online (WHO, 2023).
Research suggests that telepsychiatry has been effective in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms among displaced Ukrainians (Bogdanov et al., 2024).
- Peer Support Networks
Community-based peer-support programs, where trauma survivors support one another, have shown promising results. These networks help rebuild trust, foster resilience, and reduce feelings of isolation (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies [IFRC], 2023).
- International Assistance
Organizations like WHO, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have provided crucial psychological first aid training, counseling services, and mental health capacity-building initiatives across Ukraine and refugee-hosting countries.
Despite these efforts, experts caution that humanitarian responses must shift from short-term crisis interventions to long-term mental health system strengthening (WHO, 2023).
8. Long-Term Consequences
- Chronic Mental Health Disorders
Without sustained interventions, a significant portion of the war-affected population risks developing chronic PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, and other long-term psychiatric conditions (Hobfoll et al., 2021).
- Increased Substance Abuse
Substance abuse often increases after wars as individuals self-medicate to cope with psychological pain. Early reports from both Russia and Ukraine suggest rising alcohol and drug misuse rates, particularly among displaced young adults and veterans (WHO, 2023).
- Intergenerational Trauma
Trauma can be transmitted across generations, especially when parents fail to resolve their own psychological wounds. Children of war survivors often internalize anxiety, grief, and distrust, even if they did not experience direct violence (Yehuda & Lehrner, 2018).
Addressing intergenerational trauma will be essential for the long-term reconstruction of Ukrainian and Russian societies.
9. Conclusion
The Russia-Ukraine war has precipitated a mental health crisis of staggering proportions. Civilians, soldiers, refugees, and children have endured immense psychological suffering that will likely reverberate for generations. PTSD, depression, anxiety, complicated grief, and substance abuse threaten the social and economic fabric of both nations.
While international efforts have alleviated some of the immediate needs, much more must be done. Comprehensive, culturally sensitive, and long-term strategies are required to rebuild individual lives and national psyches. A true path to recovery must not only heal cities and economies but must also attend to the invisible, enduring wounds within people’s hearts and minds.
10. References
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.). American Psychiatric Publishing.
Bogdanov, S., Shumilo, O., & Melnyk, A. (2024). The role of telepsychiatry in post-war Ukraine. European Psychiatry, 67(1), e41. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.202
Bojanowska, A., et al. (2022). Cultural stigma and mental health service use in Eastern Europe. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 68(5), 399–410.
Global Mental Health Network. (2023). Mental health survey of displaced Ukrainians.
Hirschberger, G. (2018). Collective trauma and the social construction of meaning. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1441. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01441
Hobfoll, S. E., et al. (2021). The impact of war on mental health: Longitudinal evidence. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 34(5), 1003–1011.
Human Rights Watch. (2023). War crimes in Ukraine: Summary report. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. (2024). Ukraine crisis: Displacement overview. Retrieved from https://www.internal-displacement.org/
International Crisis Group. (2023). Russia’s internal fractures: A mental health perspective. Retrieved from https://www.crisisgroup.org/
International Organization for Migration. (2023). Mental health needs of Ukrainian IDPs. Retrieved from https://www.iom.int/
Killikelly, C., & Maercker, A. (2018). Prolonged grief disorder: Recent developments and controversies. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 31(1), 32–38.
Levada Center. (2024). Public opinion in Russia: War and mental health. Retrieved from https://www.levada.ru/
Mental Health for Ukraine (MH4U). (2023). Trauma-informed care: Implementation in Ukraine. Retrieved from https://mh4u.in.ua/
National Center for PTSD. (2022). Veterans and PTSD. Retrieved from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/
Save the Children. (2023). Ukraine’s children: Psychological needs assessment. Retrieved from https://www.savethechildren.net/
UNICEF. (2023). The mental health impact on Ukraine’s youth. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2024). Ukraine refugee situation. Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org/
World Health Organization. (2022). Mental health and psychosocial considerations during war. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/
World Health Organization. (2023). Ukraine emergency health situation report. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/
Yehuda, R., & Lehrner, A. (2018). Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: Putative role of epigenetic mechanisms. World Psychiatry, 17(3), 243–257.
11. Report Compiler: ChatGPT 2025
12. Disclaimer
This 'Mental Health Status During Russia-Ukraine War' report is based on information available at the time of its preparation and is provided for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness, errors and omissions may occur. The compiler of the Mental Health Status During Russia-Ukraine War report (ChatGPT) and / or Vernon Chalmers for the Mental Health and Motivation website (in the capacity as report requester) disclaim any liability for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions and will not be held responsible for any decisions or conclusions made based on this information."