What Children in Ukraine Need Right Now

The impact of conflict on children is significant. Research from Turku University shows that in war zones, 60% of adolescents witnessed armed attacks, 14% were victims of violence, and 30% were displaced from their homes. ¹ Children also endure isolation caused by disruptions in family, friendships, and education, and vulnerability to sexual violence, malnutrition, and illness.² This exposure to different forms of violence, the duration of conflict, and the nature of trauma, whether witnessed or experienced, elevate the likelihood of mental disorders later in life. The global deficit in child mental health services worsens the already challenging situation.³

The invasion of Ukraine particularly endangers young children, stripping away their sense of security. They struggle to comprehend the complexities of war, lack dependable parental support due to pervasive confusion and insecurity, and face challenges in finding new refuge and rebuilding friendships.⁴ Additionally, the destruction of over 2,400 educational facilities diminishes safe spaces for social interaction.⁵ Many children have also been separated from their families, necessitating specific care and concerns about future social mobility. Separated children also face serious risks of human trafficking and abuse. 

Children with disabilities already face pre-existing challenges, including stigma, isolation, and difficulties in accessing community assistance.⁶ Conflict worsens these effects, especially for those with intellectual disabilities. The situation is severe for many living in residential institutions, where tens of thousands of people are segregated and children with disabilities are often living in inhumane conditions.^{7 8}  

Because of these factors, Heal Ukraine Trauma and other organizations are working to provide support to children’s programs as an urgent priority. Right now, children in Ukraine require safe physical and psychological spaces, support to process their complex trauma and experiences, and strengthening social networks, which they have all lost since the start of the war.   

As Dennis Ougrin, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Heal Ukraine Trauma Advisory Board Member stated:  

“Ukrainian children are proving to be exceptionally resilient in what is the bloodiest war in Europe since the Second World War. Their stories of survival and overcoming trauma are both heart-breaking and uplifting. Some children, however, will need help. We know how to help them. Helping now could prevent a lot of suffering in the future.”    

Learn more about the needs in Ukraine here

Sources:

1 No Author, 2022. Study explored the impact of the Russian invasion on Mental Health in Ukraine 2014. EurekAlert! Available at: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsreleases/971055 (Accessed: January 10, 2023). 

2 Bellamy, C., 2005. Childhood under threat. UNICEF. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/media/84801/file/SOWC-2005.pdf (Accessed: January 10, 2023). 

3 Bellamy, C., 2005. Childhood under threat. UNICEF. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/media/84801/file/SOWC-2005.pdf (Accessed: January 10, 2023). 

4 Rocha, T.B.M., Graeff-Martins, A.S., Kieling, C. and Rohde, L.A., 2015. Provision of mental healthcare for children and adolescents: a worldwide view. Current opinion in psychiatry, 28(4), pp.330-335. 

5 Mihajlovic, A., Segalite, L. and Lawler, A., 2022. Mental health disparities of Ukrainian children exposed to war: A narrative review. World Social Psychiatry, 4(2), p.63. 

6 No Author, 2022. Help for more than half a million people while the situation in Ukraine worsens [en/CS] – Ukraine. ReliefWeb. Available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/help-more-half-million-people-whilesituation-ukraine-worsens-encs (Accessed: January 10, 2023).

7 Askew, J., 2022. 'Left Behind': How war is hitting the disabled in Ukraine. euronews. Available at: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/08/02/a-crisis-withina-crisis-how-war-is-hitting-the-disabled-in-ukraine (Accessed: January 10, 2023).  

8 No Author, No Date. Through this conflict in Ukraine, what happens to persons with disabilities? International Disability Alliance. Available at: https://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/content/through-conflict-ukrainewhat-happens-persons-disabilities (Accessed: January 10, 2023). 

9 Askew, J., 2022. 'Left Behind': How war is hitting the disabled in Ukraine. euronews. Available at: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/08/02/a-crisis-withina-crisis-how-war-is-hitting-the-disabled-in-ukraine (Accessed: January 10, 2023).