Traumatic Divide: Surviving the Conflict in Eastern Ukraine { 50 images } Created 22 Feb 2016
The wounds of war are tormenting eastern Ukraine: thousands of civilians and soldiers continue living in towns and villages along the country’s conflict areas, surviving with an almost total lack of psychological support. The once welcoming landscape is now constellated by damaged, burnt out houses and empty buildings. A number of schools and institutions have managed to remain open, but the sound of machine-guns and explosions are still daily occurrences.
Children can't sleep: they have nightmares, they shake, they pee in their pants. Many victims of trauma only run into psychological problems at a later time, reliving events even years after they happened and experiencing them all over again as if it was the first time. Sometimes they are unwillingly led to suicide or to hurt others. Often supported by volunteers and challenged by limited resources and small budgets, social workers tirelessly carry out mental rehabilitation programs.
Many Ukrainians have lived through gruesome and dangerous experiences. They are increasingly becoming depressed, angry and overly suspicious about both sides of the conflict, only hoping for it to end soon through political will and diplomacy. With over 10.000 dead since April 2014, and more than one million civilians displaced, sufficient help to cope with the widespread trauma is unavailable.
Mental health professionals are also affected by the stigma of the Soviet era, when political dissidents were 'treated' in 'institutions'. As a result, even if people have the opportunity to visit a psychologist, they are often afraid of potentially being labeled 'crazy'. The severe lack of services and opportunities could lead to a social catastrophe. If combined with the deep economic crisis Ukraine is facing, it could be disruptive to the country’s long-term peace efforts and future development.
Children can't sleep: they have nightmares, they shake, they pee in their pants. Many victims of trauma only run into psychological problems at a later time, reliving events even years after they happened and experiencing them all over again as if it was the first time. Sometimes they are unwillingly led to suicide or to hurt others. Often supported by volunteers and challenged by limited resources and small budgets, social workers tirelessly carry out mental rehabilitation programs.
Many Ukrainians have lived through gruesome and dangerous experiences. They are increasingly becoming depressed, angry and overly suspicious about both sides of the conflict, only hoping for it to end soon through political will and diplomacy. With over 10.000 dead since April 2014, and more than one million civilians displaced, sufficient help to cope with the widespread trauma is unavailable.
Mental health professionals are also affected by the stigma of the Soviet era, when political dissidents were 'treated' in 'institutions'. As a result, even if people have the opportunity to visit a psychologist, they are often afraid of potentially being labeled 'crazy'. The severe lack of services and opportunities could lead to a social catastrophe. If combined with the deep economic crisis Ukraine is facing, it could be disruptive to the country’s long-term peace efforts and future development.
