Keywords: General practice; Refugees; Anxiety and depression

Background:

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to leave the country or have been internally displaced. Since this can lead to anxiety and depression, it is important to address which factors influence psychological state.

Research questions:

What factors influence the psychological state of internally displaced Ukrainians and Ukrainian refugees in other countries?

Method:

Descriptive cross-sectional online survey-based study using an open-ended question. Study population: Ukrainians aged ≥18 who were internally displaced or refugees in 9 European countries since February 2022. Data collection: convenience and snowball sampling. We analysed data using a thematic framework, with two independent researchers to identify codes, subthemes and themes.

Results:

We analysed free text from 458 respondents. identifying six main themes.
1) The impact of war, that reflected a deep feeling or an unreal situation that differed between people inside Ukraine (fear induced by air raid alarms, and shelling) and outside (news about the war and deaths).
2) Disrupted social networks, expressing a deep concern for the relatives who remained in Ukraine or were directly involved in the war, leading to isolation, worry, and longing for loved ones left behind or affected by the conflict.
3) Economic burden, since finding a job in foreign countries is a huge challenge for Ukrainians.
4) Health-related problems, especially with access to care and continuity of care.
5) Obstacles to local integration, due particularly to language and cultural barriers
6) Tools and resources for better adaptation, emphasising personal efforts to focus on positiveness and adapt to their circumstances.

Conclusions:

The findings help us to better understand the factors influencing the psychological state of internally displaced persons and refugees, which can help in overcoming possible barriers in communicaton with healhcare providers and social workers?

Points for discussion:

What are the experiences of EGPRN members with mental health problems of refugees that they care for?