The war in Ukraine has triggered not only a humanitarian crisis, but also a profound mental health burden among people forced to flee. A study conducted by researchers from Wroclaw Medical University compared the mental health of Ukrainian war refugees with that of Polish residents of Wrocław.
The results, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, show that refugees experience significantly higher levels of psychological distress, particularly anxiety, somatic symptoms, and sleep problems. Nearly three-quarters of refugees met criteria for clinically relevant distress. Younger age, prior psychiatric history, and loneliness were key factors associated with higher stress levels.
Contrary to expectations, refugees did not report greater loneliness than Polish participants. Researchers suggest this may reflect strong family ties, shared migration experiences, and social support in Poland. Refugees often had broader family-based support networks, which helped buffer feelings of isolation, although such ties did not fully protect against depression or post-traumatic stress.
The authors emphasize that effective mental health support for refugees must be comprehensive—combining psychological care, social integration, and accessible services in refugees’ native language. The study highlights Wrocław as an example of community solidarity, while also underscoring the long-term need for systemic mental health support for populations affected by war and forced migration.
