Every third Ukrainian needs psychosocial support

Every third Ukrainian is in need of some form of psychosocial help, according to the Ukrainian Red Cross Secretary General Maksym Dotsenko.

– We live in the war, follow it from morning to night, he tells TT during a visit to Sweden.

Just over two years in, the full-scale war in Ukraine has become an “everyday war”, according to Maksym Dotsenko. He believes that the media “need a Butja” to direct attention there again.

– But when we liberate territories, we will find a hundred Butja, unfortunately, he says.

The war is constantly present

Even though bombs are not falling on a daily basis across the country, the war is a constant presence for everyone, causing mental illness to spread. According to Maksym Dotsenko, one third of Ukraine’s population needs psychosocial help.

– We live in the war, it follows from morning to night. Everyone is affected by it and even if you don’t think you have a problem, a lot of sadness would probably come up if you talk to a professional.

– Everyone perceives the war in the same way, it’s just the situation that changes depending on where you are, he says.

37,000 are missing

Ukraine’s human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets says 37,000 Ukrainians – both civilians and soldiers – are estimated to be missing since February 2022, AFP reports. But that figure could be even higher. The country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said in February that 31,000 soldiers had died in the first two years of the full-scale war.

– 1.1 million men are mobilized and many have lost someone they love, says Maksym Dotsenko.

– Everyone is involved in some way, not only psychologically but also physically.

Life is put on pause

A major problem that the Red Cross director points to is that life is put on hold.

– You always wait for the war to end.

– You might want to buy a dog, but think it’s better to wait until after the war. Everything is on pause, despite trying to live normally, says Maksym Dotsenko.