News
Ukraine: healing the invisible traumas of war
Since 2022, the war in Ukraine has profoundly affected the mental health of millions of people.
Première Urgence Internationale is stepping up its response to this silent emergency.
Publié le 23/05/2025 | Temps de lecture : 3 min
Local support for the most vulnerable
In the Kharkiv region, not far from the front line and in areas previously occupied by Russian forces at the start of the conflict, Première Urgence Internationale works with children and adolescents affected by fighting, displacement or family violence exacerbated by the conflict. Through psychosocial support sessions organized in community centers, the teams offer a space for listening, dialogue and reconstruction.
These young people, often scarred by the loss of a loved one, exile or exposure to drone and missile strikes, express signs of chronic stress, anxiety disorders and emotional exhaustion. Thanks to a tailored approach, Première Urgence Internationale helps them regain their psychological equilibrium in a still unstable environment.
A comprehensive strategy based on a continuum of care
To meet the scale of the needs, Première Urgence Internationale has developed a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Strategy based on the Ukrainian “Target Model 2.0”. It is based on a graduated approach to care, from community-based prevention to specialized treatment.
The aim is to mitigate the effects of war-related stress, prevent mental health disorders and strengthen individual and collective resilience.
Four strategic priorities
Première Urgence Internationale’s action is based on four complementary priorities:
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Strengthening community psychosocial support
Talking groups, mobile interventions and awareness-raising campaigns help to reduce stigmatization and encourage requests for help. Tools recommended by the World Health Organization are integrated into front-line services.
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Training professionals and volunteers
Première Urgence Internationale invests in training caregivers, social workers, first responders and mental health practitioners. The aim: to strengthen their ability to offer quality, culturally appropriate support based on proven approaches, notably cognitive-behavioral therapy.
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Integrating mental health into primary care and protection
Our teams deploy Integrated Mobile Units that include mental health and psychosocial support services in hard-to-reach areas and transit zones for displaced persons. They provide individual or group consultations, active listening, psychological crisis support and referrals to specialized services, particularly for displaced people, victims of violence or front-line caregivers.
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Ensuring continuity of care through a better referral system
The strategy aims to link the different levels of care, by building effective bridges between community support, primary care and specialized services. This includes training all healthcare staff in the Mental Health Gap Action Programme, which enables the management of mental, neurological and substance-related disorders at primary level, and facilitates subsequent referral to specialist services if necessary. This structured framework guarantees a coordinated, continuous response tailored to each situation.
A lasting commitment to community resilience
Première Urgence Internationale’s approach is based on the principles of human rights, inclusion and gender sensitivity. In the Ukraine, our teams are committed to making mental health a pillar of the humanitarian response, as well as a lever for rebuilding local capacities over the long term. By forging links between emergencies and systems strengthening, Première Urgence Internationale is working to ensure that mental health care is accessible, dignified and fully integrated into the lives of affected communities.
Copyright photos : @Caroline Thirion
To learn more about :
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Our mission in Ukraine
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Our action in Mental health & psychosocial
