Ukrainian Refugees in Turkey: Displacement Impact on Mental Health

The Russian invasion to Ukraine has resulted in nearly 6.5 million internally displaced in Ukraine and more than 4.3 million Ukrainians seeking refuge in nearby countries. The impact of sudden displacement has undeniable consequences on the mental health and well-being of Ukrainians, as well as individuals witnessing the unfolding humanitarian situation around the globe.

An unlikely host to Ukrainian refugees is Turkey, a country already host to the greatest number of refugees globally. Recent images of what is deemed to be the greatest displacement crisis in Europe since World War II evoke the increased migratory pressure following the onset of the Syrian conflict in 2013, which led to the 3.7 million currently displaced in Turkey, including individuals from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. With reports of more than 68,000 Ukrainians arrivals in Turkey under a short-term visa waiver programs, there are urgent implications for the scale-up of national health systems to support the immediate mental health needs of these populations.

This project aims to highlight the mental health and psychosocial needs of recently displaced Ukrainians who are in transit in Turkey, while also using the renewed attention on the Ukrainian crisis to catalyze improvements for the ongoing mental health needs of refugee populations globally.