Ukraine —Mental Health in Ukraine: Displacement, Vulnerabilities and Support — November 2024

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.

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 socioeconomic 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