A qualitative study of mental health impact among conflict-affected civilian population in Ukraine

Albina Zharkova, Michael Harris

Keywords: mental health, conflict, qualitative study

Background:

Among the consequences of war, the impact on the mental health of the civilian population is one of the most significant. Vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly and the disabled are suffering the most severely. It is very important for the primary health care to reveale the problems and be ready to work with those categories of patients in future.

Research questions:

The research task was to describe and identify the different types of the participants’ war experiences. To analyze how the war survivors perceived the impacts of war on their current lives. To assess the opinion of the patients about the impact of armed conflict on the access to the different levels of the healthcare.

Method:

To conduct the semi-structured interviews, and to collect the demographic data. Interviews then to be transcribed
and coded thematically.

Results:

The analysis identified five main themes of war experiences: focusing on pain and humiliation, loss of close relationships, horrific scenes, threats to life, and fleeing for one’s life. The results documented a variety of experiences including unique meanings, vivid memories of cruelty, and cultural, social, political, and psychological symbols. Common to the stories, and were highly emotional tones of sadness, rage, fear, despair, and longing. In the following, we present the main themes and their subthemes.

Conclusions:

These findings are important for professionals working with war-affected population. Our study may help to identify the problems and needs of the victims of the war conflict. However, the study also recognized the survivors’ lack of opportunities, limited or no access to healthcare, and extreme deprivation in the society of as helpless, passive victims without capabilities or inspiration for their lives.

Points for discussion:

#148