Since the escalation of the armed conflict in Ukraine on 24 February 2022 more than 10 million people have been forcibly displaced internally or to other countries and millions depend on humanitarian aid.
These numbers represent individual people experiencing the trauma and stress of armed conflict and displacement – lost family members, separated children, destroyed homes and flight to unknown destinations. It is extremely important that the international humanitarian community including both at donor and implementation level continues to invest resources and efforts - challenges remain and it is too early for crisis fatigue.
The armed conflict has had severe mental health implications for people affected. The PS Centre has coordinated efforts closely with National Societies, IFRC and ICRC and Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies across Europe are currently engaged in the most extensive mental health response to date targeting individuals who have suffered the loss of loved ones, homes, and jobs, and have been exposed to traumatic events. Over one million people in need have received psychosocial support, thanks to specialist staff and more than 124,000 volunteers from 58 countries spanning Ukraine, neighbouring countries, and countries across Europe.
The PS Centre responses are funded by two complementary funding streams allowing a broad scope of intervention. A project funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG Santé), with specific objectives to offer mental health support to the people displaced from Ukraine and support strengthening caring for staff and volunteers structures in 25 European National Societies, while an appeal to National Societies allowed the flexibility to address additional needs including trainings and technical support and capacity-building activities in specific technical areas.
