Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Ukrainian Refugees in the Netherlands from Fragmentation to Integration

Abstract

Introduction:More than 7.8 million people fled Ukraine since the invasion of Russia and are registered as refugees in Europe (as of November 1, 2022). Almost 89,000 of them are registered to the Netherlands (as of November 3, 2022). It is expected that this number will rise. Appropriate and accessible Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is essential for conflict survivors to address psychological harm from traumatic events and distress both during the escape and after, while trying to adjust to an unfamiliar place. Receiving countries have the obligation to provide MHPSS as part of their international commitment to the right to health. This is recognized in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Nevertheless, the Netherlands is failing to honor this commitment with fragmented services that do not seem to fit support needs. The longer it takes to put a comprehensive approach in place, the greater the damage to the refugees will be. This interactive session aims to shed light on practical challenges and opportunities for the implementation of appropriate, accessible and integrated MHPSS. What is needed to go from a fragmented to an integrated approach?Method:Being active as advisors in the field of Disaster Health and MHPSS in the Netherlands, the presenters review their experienced challenges thereafter opportunities and good practices are explored together with the participants.Results:Experienced challenges include complexity, fragmented organization, lack of ownership and inadequate access to knowledge and information about support needs.Conclusion:More is needed to meet the commitment to the right of health and to provide adequate MHPSS to refugees in the Netherlands and beyond. International exchange and learning can help us to understand and overcome implementation challenges.