As the war in Ukraine drags into a second year, it’s estimated that 1.5 million children in that nation are at risk of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, and need mental health care to cope with the trauma of living under siege.
“The war in Ukraine robbed many children of their childhood. They have witnessed horrors that no one should ever see, and they have lived in constant fear and uncertainty,” said Andy Kurtzig, CEO of JustAnswer. “We cannot stand by and watch as a generation of young Ukrainians suffer from the effects of violence and fear.”
While experts say that most people who go through a traumatic event — such as threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence — often experience nightmares, anxiety or headaches, most soon recover. Student waitlists climb at City College, faculty union says An unclear resolution to rehire laid off faculty causes confusion and growing waitlists
“The number of children in need of help is increasing every day because the psychological consequences of war are distant in time,” said Ivan Myskiv, the director of St. Nicholas Hospital in Ukraine. “Children experience anxiety disorders, PTSD, depression, dissociative disorders and behavioral disorders, and are more prone to alcohol and drug abuse. Therefore, the existence of such a center is extremely important so that we can provide children and adolescents with quality medical care.