Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic suffer from depression: study data.

A significant portion of Ukrainian refugees living in the Czech Republic face mental health problems. In particular, almost 50% of them have symptoms of depression. However, most remain alone with the problem and do not seek help, writes Syri.cz.

A recent study conducted by the Sociological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the National Institute of SYRI revealed trends in mental health among Ukrainian refugees.

The results indicate that:

• over 41% of respondents experience moderate or severe depression,
• more than 23% report moderate or severe anxiety.

The study, which surveyed over 1300 Ukrainian refugees, showed that depression and anxiety are particularly common among women and individuals under 30 years old. These groups are significantly more likely to encounter mental health issues.

Researchers are concerned that a significant portion of refugees experiencing symptoms of depression do not seek specialists' help.

«Our results from a sample of more than 1300 Ukrainian refugees indicate that a large number of them experience depression and anxiety. This is especially true for women and young people under 30 years old. These categories are significantly more likely to have mental health problems. They simply do not perceive mental health difficulties as problems, so they are less likely to seek help. Insufficient recognition of these problems and alarmingly low levels of seeking psychiatric support indicate a need for mental health literacy programs specifically targeted at this population group,» said researcher Matoš Pilnaček.

Experts advocate for the implementation of informational programs on mental health issues and the expansion of access to support services.

In a statement by Zoja Guerrero, a co-author of the recent study, the importance of overcoming language barriers and cultural differences is emphasized. «Considering language barriers and cultural differences, I consider it extremely important to introduce programs led by Ukrainian experts, which will be taught in Ukrainian. These programs can significantly help remove the stigma of mental health issues and expand access to medical care,» she emphasized. 

Ukrainian refugees bring profit to the Czech budget

Let us recall, Ukrainian refugees have started bringing profit to the Czech budget. In the first three months of this year, the contribution of Ukrainians to the state treasury of the Czech Republic exceeded the assistance paid by almost 3 billion Czech crowns. According to the Ministry of Finance, this amount can be used to build ten kilometers of highways or increase the pension of all pensioners by 1200 crowns per year.

Earlier it was reported that humanitarian aid for refugee families from Ukraine in the Czech Republic could be increased. The amount of housing expenses, which is calculated according to the size of the aid, may increase. The adjustment is intended to give people with temporary protection the opportunity to find other housing after the state stops providing free housing in September.