Attachments
KEY FINDINGS
- Thirty-eight per cent of respondents are at high risk of depression (PHQ-2 score of 3+). These symptoms were more commonly reported by women (42%) and persons with self-reported disabilities (45%).
- The reported experience of symptoms of depression was highest among IDPs (50%), followed by returnees (42%), and the non-displaced (35%). The risk of depression was more common in individuals considering to move from their current location, in the short or long term.
- Unemployed individuals appeared to be at higher risk of depression (54%). Household-level vulnerabilities, such as the use of severe coping strategies and the presence of persons with chronic illnesses, were also correlated with higher rates of those reporting symptoms of depression.
- One third of individuals who reported being at high risk of depression mentioned the need for psychological support. Individuals who reported symptoms of depression also identified a lack of access to basic goods and services at higher proportions than individuals without symptoms of depression.
INTRODUCTION
As of October 2024, an estimated 3.6 million people remain internally displaced in Ukraine, while 4.3 million previously displaced people have returned to their primary place of residence (IOM GPS R18). The war continues to have a significant impact on the country’s economy and on people’s livelihoods and living standards. Ukrainians often struggle to meet their basic needs, including food (reported as a need by 22% of respondents), with more than half (52%) of the population resorting to crisis or emergency livelihoods-based coping strategies that may significantly affect their resilience and well-being in the long term. IDPs, in particular, face insecure housing tenure, higher levels of unemployment, and are more likely to rely upon social assistance for a proportion of their household income. On the other hand, almost a third of returnees interviewed for General Population Survey (GPS) reported struggling to access income earning opportunities (31%), and 22 per cent reported limited access to adequate education, indicating the difficulties encountered to rebuild their lives in their areas of origin, while the entire population is impacted by the broader socio-economic consequences of the war (IOM GPS R17).
The protracted nature of the conflict and the uncertainty about the future it creates, together with unfavorable economic conditions, are expected to have a significant and lasting impact on the mental health of the Ukrainian population. Against this backdrop, this brief provides an overview of the population groups most at risk of experiencing symptoms of depression, examining factors such as gender, age, and disability. It also explores the relationship between mental health and displacement status, as well as individual and household-level socio-economic characteristics, and outlines support needs. Finally, the brief presents recommendations for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programming across Ukraine, aiming to inform targeted assistance to address the pressing mental health challenges facing vulnerable populations affected by conflict.