MENTAL HEALTH IN CONDITIONS OF WAR: KEY MENTAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CHALLENGES AND PRINCIPLES OF ASSISTANCE

Abstract

Purpose: to analyze the main mental and psychosocial challenges associated with war and to develop key principles for providing effective psychosocial support. Materials and Methods. The study materials included publications from international and Ukrainian scientific journals, reports from WHO, UNICEF, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, and other open sources published between 2015 and 2025, as well as the authors’ practical experience. Methods used included literature and regulatory document analysis, content analysis of epidemiological data and official reports, qualitative analysis of clinical observations described in scientific and practical sources with systematization of key symptoms and consequences, and comparative analysis of literary and practical data on mental states. Results. War is a powerful psychotraumatic factor significantly affecting the population's mental health. The most vulnerable groups are military personnel, families of the deceased, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Military personnel exhibit symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety-depressive manifestations, complicating post-combat adaptation. Families of the deceased experience intense grief reactions with depressive episodes and a sense of irreversible loss. IDPs experience anxiety, loss of safety, and difficulties integrating into new environments. A common feature across all groups is collective trauma affecting individuals and society as a whole, emphasizing the need for comprehensive psychosocial support, including basic assistance, psychoeducation, and specialized therapy. Conclusions. The main mental and psychosocial challenges related to war were analyzed, and key principles for assistance provision were developed. War causes collective trauma affecting different population groups and requiring a systemic approach. The most vulnerable categories – military personnel, families of the deceased, and IDPs – require targeted support. Mental disorders, including PTSD, acute grief reactions, and refugee syndrome, require professional intervention. Assistance should be differentiated and multi-level, combining psychoeducation, social support, and specialized therapy. Reducing stigma and implementing state programs remain crucial, and further research is needed to fully understand long-term consequences.