In contact with a child or young person from Ukraine? Apply watchful waiting

June 18, 2022 

PSS-SEL Toolbox

The PSS-SEL Toolbox is a set of tools to promote coherence, coordination, and localization of psychosocial support and social (PSS) and emotional learning (SEL) in EiE (Eduction in Emergencies) contexts.

Whether you are looking to:

• Familiarize yourself with the field of PSS-SEL
• Build consensus on PSS-SEL between stakeholders
• Create, adopt, or adapt a PSS-SEL framework
• Create, adapt, validate, or supplement an existing PSS-SEL curriculum, teacher training materials, and more
• Design or localize a PSS-SEL program
• Influence or inform PSS-SEL policy, or - Find and select measures to assess PSS-SEL

…the PSS-SEL Toolbox provides a robust set of tools and guidance to support you in achieving your goals.  

See toolkit here 

Psychological First Aid for Children II: Dealing With Traumatic Responses in Children

The PFA II, Dealing with traumatic responses in children manual provides guidance for staff working with children who are severely affected psychologically by acute crisis. It is not a clinical tool and does not in itself qualify staff to engage in clinical interventions. This tool lays the foundation for providing PFA as a basic psychological support. However, in some situations, it appears that methods such as comfort and stabilization are not sufficient. PFA II is supplementary to the basic PFA training. It provides advice for non-psychologists, based on field experience, and research. It provides advice to staff dealing directly with children who are showing concerning behaviours.

Download the guide here 

Information for persons undergoing psychiatric treatment in Ukraine and find themselves in Poland by Poland MoH & WHO (2022) 

Available in the following languages

• English 
• Polish 
• Ukrainian 

EMDR Europe is currently very active to continue the support for the war in Ukraine .
Here some material that could be helpful to work with different groups and populations:

• Talking to children about war 
• Flyer children 
• Flyer adults 

More on the section Contributions from our partners 

 Resources collected by Unie Psychologickych Asociaci CR (UPACR)

• Council of the Czech-Moravian Psychological Society: Psychological help for Ukrainian citizens  (in Czech and Ukrainian)  
•  The Association of Psychologists of Security Corps: Psychological help – contacts  

• Interviews and articles in media :

 Štěpán Vymětal: Putin-type personalities must be given clear boundaries 

 Expanded horizons: Ukraine edition | Šárka Tomová and Marek Preiss 

 Psychologists in the Media, February 2022  

• Czech-Moravian Psychological Society cooperates with Ministry of Health on creating online materials for people coming from Ukraine : Possibilities of mental health care 
• Free therapy for people affected by the situation in Ukraine 
• Supporting psychologists from Ukraine regarding transition in Czech Republic 
  

Norsk Psykologforening (NPF) 

• Crisis and trauma reactions Ukrainian NPF  
• How to support children during crisis (ENG) 
• How to support children during crisis (Ukraininan) 
  

European Federation of Psychology Students' Associations

 Overview of helplines around Europe 

See section Contributions from our partners 

American Psychological Association

Supporting people to manage the psychological impact of war

How to handle the trauma of war from afar. Psychologists offer advice on managing stress around the conflict 

See section Conributions from our partners 

American Psychological Association

Supporting people to manage the psychological impact of war

 Talking to kids about the war in Ukraine. Psychologists offer strategies for discussing the conflict in age-appropriate ways with children and teens 

See section Conributions from our partners 

EFPA SC Geropsychology - Statement about the situation of older persons in Ukraine

In reply to a request from EFPA Executive Council  

Amidst the horrors of war in Ukraine there is one vulnerable group that has received little attention in the public so far. In 2021 there were more than 10 million people 60 years or older in Ukraine [1]. Many old and very old people are left behind while women and children are forced to flee their homes and healthy men under 60 are called to defend their country. As Geropsychologists and psychology specialists for late life we see a need to draw attention to the plight of older persons and the issues that affect ageing individuals in the current Ukraine. It is our hope that an increased awareness of this matter will result in providing more psychological support, assistance, crisis intervention and other resources. Although it has been heartening to see occasional media reports about the situation of older and disabled people in care homes and at home in Ukraine, media attention is drawn mainly to the impact on children and younger generations. We understand, that it requires a particular effort to include older people in mainstream reporting, and to ensure a balance between a positive narrative of their contribution and raising awareness of their situation and needs. More importantly, the support, health provision, and care of each and every old and very old individual in the Ukraine requires much effort and support in everyday life and needs to be secured in sustainable ways over the coming weeks, months, and perhaps years.

Many older people serve in varied volunteer roles in this conflict, demonstrating resilience and strength in adversity. However, older people who require care and support are particularly vulnerable, often unable to leave, affected by lack of medicines and the inability of care givers to reach them with food or daily necessities of basic care. Many are also affected by direct or transgenerational war trauma stemming from the invasions of Ukraine during World War II, and while managing the psychological issues of declining health and dependency, the impact of perceiving to be a burden on family and society is heightened by experiences of powerlessness in the face of war related attacks and disruptions.

According to the United Kingdom Disasters Emergency Committee alliance of leading aid charities a survey of the eastern Donbas region, where fighting has been going on in places since 2014, indicated that more than 90% of the older population in this region need help to get food and cannot heat their homes in freezing conditions. Around 80% of older people report insufficient access to clean drinking water due to active shelling and airstrikes disrupting water supplies. More than a third of the older people are in urgent need of medication for chronic diseases, and three-quarters need hygiene items such as toothpaste, soap and toilet paper [2].

A 70-year old widow, Ekaterina, who now lives alone in her house in the eastern parts of Ukraine describes the situation as follows:  

I am feeling very lonely. Because of the conflict, my daughters can't come to me. And I can't visit them, as I am afraid to abandon my house… The shelling is what worries me the most. What if they hit the house, and blast the windows, roof, doors out? Who will help me?” [3].  

Living under such conditions is of course physically dangerous, but also extremely stressful and may result in despair, anxiety and psychological trauma among the older people left behind. Previously, research related to the Homeland war in Croatia (1991-1995), has stressed that it is extremely difficult for older people to cope with high levels of war-related stress [4]. Older persons, then in Croatia and now in Ukraine, usually have a lower educational status, their economic potential has diminished and many of them are widows or widowers. These facts anticipate the vulnerability of older adults and put them into a more unfavorable position regarding their capacity to cope with crises, compared to the younger adults. Their sources of social support, either emotional or material, that might help them cope with stress better, are also significantly reduced. Therefore, greater incidence of morbidity may be expected among the older persons, which makes them a special high-health-risk population. Those separated from their families and those completely alone will probably need the greatest assistance, psychological, social and medical [4].

EFPA Executive Council and Head Office have now set up a Psychological Support Hub regarding the war in Ukraine. This Hub focuses on sharing resources, exchanging information and best practices, and citing guidelines for provision of services during the war [5].

We highly recommend that the older people affected by the war be mentioned explicitly and be considered by the psychologists and other specialists who can offer help.    

References

[1] Statista (2022). Resident population of Ukraine as of January 1, 2021, by age group. Retrieved March 29 from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1006655/ukraine-population-by-age-group/  

[2] Voice of America (2022). Elderly, Disabled Unable to Flee Ukraine War, Charities Say. Retrieved March 28th from: https://www.voanews.com/a/elderly-disabled-unable-to-flee-ukraine-war-charities-say/6478084.html  

[3] Age International (2022). Ukraine conflict: Ekaterina's story. Retrieved March 29 from: https://www.ageinternational.org.uk/news-features/features/ukraine-crisis--ekaterinas-story/    

[4] Havelka, M., Despot Lučanin, J. & Lučanin, D. (1995). Psychological reactions to war stressors among elderly displaced persons in Croatia. Croatian Medical Journal, 36(4), 262-265.  

[5] EFPA (2022). EFPA Hub – Psychological Support for Ukraine. Retrieved March 29 from: https://efpa.magzmaker.com/efpa_hub_psychological_support_for_ukraine    

EFPA’s Standing Committee on Geropsychology contributed their expertise to and wrote this statement. The Standing Committee on Geropsychology comprises representatives from across Europe working together on developing the evidence base of psychology related to ageing and translating it into practical implementation.

Austria

Berufsverband Österreichischer Psychologen/innen (BÖP)

 Information sheet on how to deal with the psychological consequences of the war in Ukraine (in German / Ukrainian / Russian )

the Berufsverband Österreichischer PsychologInnen (BÖP) (Association of Austrian Psychologists) has developed an information sheet on how to deal with the psychological consequences of the war in Ukraine. In this, psychological recommendations for dealing with the current crisis situation were summarized on the basis of emergency psychological findings.

Attached is the information sheet in :

• German 
• Ukrainian 
• Russian 
  
  

Denmark

Dansk Psykolog Forening (DPF) 

Talking to children - Sådan hjælper vi børn med krigstraumer

Hvad er et traume? Hvad traumatiserer børn? Og hvad kan man som voksen gøre? Det besvarer autoriseret psykolog og specialist i psykoterapi, Henrik Dybvad Larsen, i artiklen om krigstraumer hos børn, som kan læses her: https://altompsykologi.dk/2022/03/krigstraumer-hos-boern/

American Psychological Society

Find APA resources under the section Contributions from our partners 

Austria

Berufsverband Österreichischer Psychologen/innen (BÖP)

 Talking to children:

Der Krieg in der Ukraine macht vielen Menschen Angst - besonders Kindern. Wie man am besten mit Kindern über Krieg und Krisen spricht, erklärt Psycholgin Melanie Schweinzer, M.Sc. im KURIER. Sie sagt: Entscheidend ist, wie Eltern das Geschehene erklären. „Es ist wichtig, eigene Ängste nicht zu verschweigen, sondern sachlich, kindgerecht und ohne Spekulationen zu reagieren“, so die Psychologin. „Eltern sollten ihre Kinder nicht anlügen, aber unmittelbare Ängste nehmen und erklären, dass die Kriegshandlungen dennoch weit weg von uns passieren.“

Berufsverband Österreichischer Psychologen/innen (BÖP)

BDP has activated its crisis hotline.  

The frightening images and news from Ukraine deeply worry people in Germany and Europe. Women, children and young people are fleeing and have to deal with the terrible experiences of war, the loss of home and security and the fears of an uncertain present and future. In order to deal with the acute psychological consequences of the experiences in view of the dramatic events, the BDP has activated its crisis hotline. It is intended to provide acute support for those affected and helpers and will be broadcast daily in the coming weeks.

Read more 

Austria

Berufsverband Österreichischer Psychologen/innen (BÖP)

 Helpline:

Wenn Sie reden möchten: Unsere Helpline ist Montag bis Donnerstag von 9-13 unter 01 504 8000 oder per Mail helpline@psychologiehilft.at kostenlos und anonym für Sie da.