Ukraine: Mental Health on the Front Lines of War

Anhelina Korchenok, a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist at HI Ukraine, sheds light on the often-overlooked mental health needs of Ukrainians amid war, underscoring a vital message: No Health Without Mental Health.

She explains how Ukrainians face growing psychological distress after more than four years of war. Humanity & Inclusion provides mental health support, rehabilitation, and accessible services to help people recover and regain independence.

The Psychological Toll of Prolonged War 

“The full-scale war in Ukraine has been ongoing for more than four and a half years, and its consequences for the mental health of the population are becoming increasingly evident,” says Anhelina Korchenok, MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) Specialist at HI Ukraine. “At the beginning, people sought help mainly due to acute traumatic experiences: loss of home, loved ones, or forced displacement. Today, however, requests are more often linked to accumulated exhaustion. People live in a constantly stressful environment without the possibility of recovery, which leads to a depletion of psychological resources.” 

According to WHO (World Health Organization) data, in 2026, 70% of Ukrainians reported significant psychological distress, with figures reaching 76% in frontline areas. This means that nearly everyone is experiencing a serious impact of the war on their mental health.  

Impacted People's Needs 

The psychological challenges faced by Ukrainians are often complex. Behind anxiety or insomnia lies a whole spectrum of life circumstances; each person carries their own story, for some it is the trauma of losing a home, for others the daily fear of sending children to school under air?raid alarms, and for many it is the struggle to rebuild life after injury or displacement. Together, these individual experiences form the collective picture of a nation living under relentless psychological pressure.   

The situation is particularly difficult in frontline communities, where even after some adaptation, new attacks or house demolitions sharply increase stress levels again. 

Humanity & Inclusion’s Work 

HI in Ukraine applies a comprehensive approach to psychosocial support: 

• Localization: Strengthening local organizations' and professionals' capacity to ensure help is available within communities. 

• Integration: Combining psychological support with physical rehabilitation and social protection services. 

• Accessibility: Bringing assistance closer to people through home visits and online consultations, especially for those who cannot reach service centers on their own. 

HI works with survivors of explosive ordnance, people with disabilities, and internally displaced people, helping them restore not only physical functions but also psychological resilience and social roles. 

How Support Can Help Survivors Rebuild Their Lives 

Anhelina Korchenok recalls a woman who, after occupation and displacement, received psychosocial support and found the strength to rebuild her life: she secured employment, enrolled her child in kindergarten, and later pursued a degree in psychology. Today, she helps others. This is a powerful example of how support can become a resource not only for one individual but for an entire community. 

There is no health without mental health. Care must be accessible to everyone, especially in times of crisis. For donors and international partners, it is crucial to keep investing in quality and accessible services. For each of us, it is equally important to find daily ways to support ourselves and not be afraid of seeking help.