They left behind everything theyve ever known.
Thousands have been killed and injured, including children.
Daily pictures and video of atrocities suffered in Ukraine are splashed across the media.
Mariia Symchych-Navrotska / EyeEm / Getty
The atrocities seem unimaginableand those pictures alone are traumatic enough.
This can cause depression and anxiety and make people feel lost.
Their sense of identity has been stripped without any ability to prepare for it.
Their entire world was turned upside down overnight.
Attention is given to their immediate needs for food, clothing, and housingand rightfully so.
However, the lack of ability to focus on mental health is exacting a heavy toll.
The Mental Health Impact
Katerina Manoff was living her childhood dream.
She founded a nonprofit,ENGin, to help Ukrainian youth improve their English-speaking skills.
Things were going well.
And then the war hit.
They send pictures of devastation and destruction.
Shes had to send money for them to stay in hotels since they fled their homes.
It has taken a toll.
For me its been so hard.
Theres a lot of hopelessness.
Theres this frustration also that people in Ukraine feel, Manoff explains.
That optimism soon turned to despair.
As the war went on, our mental health [started] really suffering.
You see these horrible atrocities; you see these photos, Manoff notes.
Our friends send us the photos that dont even make it to the big media outlets.
I have seen so many dead bodies and disfigured bodies, and just so many dead kids.
Ukrainians are grappling with a multitude of emotions at once.
Its agrief reactionbut its complicated by the sense that there is also fear for your own safety.
It makes it a very complicated bereavement, Dr. Kent explains.
Trauma is trauma; however, the difference here is your entire life and home is at risk.
You arent just grieving a person; you are grieving your entire existence.
The effects of that anger are far-reaching.
For a child, the impact is immeasurable.
Research shows that children whove lived through war and conflict suffer a high level ofpsychological problems.
The burden of living through warcreates mental health scarsthat will continue to follow them.
The internet can be a start.
Therapists can provide services virtually to give Ukrainians ways to cope with the trauma theyre experiencing.
Even if you cant providetherapy, you could help by giving to relief organizations.
Bringing a measure of stability to Ukrainians lives by making a donation can help ease some mental stress.
Manoff says she draws strength from being able to be a voice for Ukrainians and the horrors they experience.
She also continues to donate her time, finances, and mental and emotional support.
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