Internal displacement in Ukraine is one of the consequences of the military conflict in the east of the country and the annexation of Crimea. According to the Ministry of Social Policy, as of February 1, 2022, more than 1.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) were registered in Ukraine. And this year, this figure has reached more than 6.6 million people. These are people who were forced to leave their homes and property because of the threat to their lives and health.
In 2015, our organization, together with other partners, created the Safe Space IDPs’ HAB, which has shown high results of its work during its operation, which we want to share.
First of all, we need to understand that IDPs face many difficulties and challenges in the new region of residence, such as
- Insufficient social and economic adaptation;
- limited access to housing, education, healthcare, social services and justice;
- discrimination, stigmatization and rejection by the local population;
- psychological stress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal thoughts and behavior;
- loss of the meaning of life, identity, heritage and cultural values.
- In these circumstances, psychosocial support for IDPs is needed to alleviate their situation, strengthen their psychological well-being and social integration.
Secondly, psychosocial support as a crucial component of IDPs’ adaptation can be provided by various actors, among which non-profit organizations (NGOs) play an important role. NGOs can provide the following psychosocial activities for IDPs, but are not limited to them:
- Psychosocial activities that can be provided by an NGO to IDPs in a new region of residence:
- Providing information on available services and resources in the new region, such as education, healthcare, social assistance, legal support, etc.
- Organizing group and individual counseling and psychotherapy sessions for internally displaced persons suffering from stress, anxiety, depression or other psychological problems.
- Creating safe and friendly spaces for internally displaced persons where they can socialize, receive social support, engage in hobbies and develop their skills.
- Involving internally displaced persons in community initiatives and volunteer activities to promote their social integration and sense of usefulness.
- Conduct trainings and seminars for internally displaced persons on self-help, stress management, building peaceful relationships and constructive conflict resolution.
