The mental state of Ukrainians is bad

The study identified several groups particularly experiencing mental deterioration, including women, people between the ages of 26 and 40, and the unemployed or internally or internationally displaced. - We can confirm that regardless of the proximity of the war and whether the respondents experienced the tragic events directly, they all tend to experience acute stress and present some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, says Anton Kurapov, one of the authors of the report. 

The survey was in the form of a questionnaire and more than 700 people took part. It was conducted six months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Mental health researchers of Ukrainians took into account several aspects: stress and its experience; depression and anxiety occurring after various types of disasters in the world; post-traumatic stress disorder; and coping strategies after stress. Women were found to be more susceptible to mental health problems than men. In addition, young people were found to be more resilient, with symptoms in the form of anxiety disorders increasing with age, except for participants older than 40. These showed lower levels of anxiety, depression and stress, comparable in level to young participants aged 18-20. In contrast, participants aged 26 to 40 showed the highest levels among all age groups.

- Our survey indicates high levels of acute stress experienced by more than half of the Ukrainians surveyed. We were surprised that the overall level of depression and anxiety was low - I'm talking about average values for the entire population - about 10-15 percent of people with higher levels of depression and anxiety were recorded, but even these people are below the so-called "clinical borderline average," meaning that they cannot be diagnosed with depression and anxiety. clinical borderline average, which means that they cannot be diagnosed with depression and anxiety ," Anton Kurapov, assistant professor at the Institute of Experimental and Applied Psychology at the Department of Psychology at Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv, explains in an interview with Newseria Business.

The situation was different for PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, which was more common and resulted from the experience of acute stress. About 10 percent of respondents presented obvious symptoms of PTSD, while another more than 20 percent had scores very close to the clinical cutoff value. At the same time, about 60 percent of respondents reported values higher than average, but below the clinical cutoff value.

- So we can confirm that regardless of the proximity of the war and whether the respondents experienced the tragic events directly, they all tend to experience acute stress and present some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, the psychologist says.

Participants in the study who experienced direct threat, such as armed attack, sexual violence, physical violence, military action, showed higher levels of anxiety and depression. One of the most important stressors is financial. Indeed, for many Ukrainians, war is associated with financial challenges, loss of work and source of income. Research from Kyiv University indicated a strong link between financial stress and mental health. Participants who reported financial problems, unable to meet their basic needs, showed significantly higher levels of anxiety compared to those who were financially stable. The same was true for the unemployed or retirees. Depression was also more common among those without jobs. The study found that those who stayed in their homes experienced lower levels of anxiety and stress compared to those who were forced to move - whether within the country or abroad. This suggests that Ukrainians perceive a direct military threat as less traumatic than fleeing their homes and country. The researchers link this to a strong attachment to family and home.

- In our research we could not reach a large number of people in the occupied territories for obvious reasons - lack of communications, internet, blocked communications, etc. Of course, we also did not reach the population on the front lines, where the danger is much more serious. So we are talking about the majority of the population living in the country, which is relatively safe," says Anton Kurapov.

What was also surprising to the researchers was that a study done six months after the war broke out saw a significant decrease in the negative consequences of the war on Ukrainians' mental health than a study from March 2022, just after the Russian aggression.

- Although still 40 percent of respondents cite war as the most serious traumatic event they have experienced, regardless of whether they participated in it directly or indirectly , says an assistant professor at the Institute of Experimental and Applied Psychology at the Department of Psychology at Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv.

The researchers are therefore cautiously optimistic that the war's effects on mental health - while significant - have not proved as threatening as they could have been. They caution, however, that the situation could worsen with the prolonged threat from Russia, even after the war is over. In their view, for this very reason, more initiatives are needed to take care of the mental health of Ukrainians. Support should be tailored to groups particularly affected by stress, anxiety or depression, namely women, people between the ages of 26 and 40, and those in a difficult financial situation.

- There are now many programs in place and specific assistance is being provided. Individual recommendations to reduce the effects of acute stress are fairly standard, starting with getting enough sleep as much as possible and breathing techniques that have very important applications. One technique is 4/6/6 or 4/4/6 breathing, which involves breathing in for 4 seconds, counting to four, then holding your breath for 4-5 seconds and exhaling for 6 seconds. The assumption is that the exhalation should be longer than the inhalation. The effectiveness of the technique lies in the fact that breathing is the only bridge between the conscious and unconscious, or parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. It is a way to consciously calm reflex reactions," explains Anton Kurapov.

Source: Newseria