This fifth part of research series The Voice of Ukrainians in the Czech Republic focuses on the mental health of refugees. The findings are based on a survey conducted in September 2022 on a representative sample of 1 347 refugees. The document summarises key findings and formulates recommendations for policy makers.

Key findings

Symptoms of moderate depression or moderate anxiety affect 45% of refugees from Ukraine, with women aged 18 - 39 are the most affected. For comparison, among Czechs this figure stood at 11% in 2021. The research suggests a link between the incidence of psychological problems and the living conditions of refugees in the Czech Republic: symptoms are more likely to be experienced by people in severe material deprivation, those who do not work or are engaged in work that is significantly more low-skilled than their work in Ukraine, people with limited knowledge of the Czech language, children who do not go to school and people staying in inadequate accommodation.  

Despite the high prevalence of mental health problems among refugees, only a small number in the Czech Republic have so far sought professional help (3%). However, 38% of the total refugee population - and 64% of those with symptoms of at least moderate depression or anxiety - have considered seeking care. The most common factors preventing the use of professional help include uncertainty about what type of help they actually need, lack of knowledge of mental health issues and lack of awareness of available services. 

The research also shows poorer outcomes for children - while the median Quality of Life (QoL) index score for Ukrainian children is 68, normative data for Czech children gives a median score of 75. A relatively strong influence on children's QoL is found to be the mental state of the rest of their family: in households where the adult suffers from moderate depression or anxiety, children have a mean QoL score of 63 out of 100, while children with adults with milder problems have a mean score of 71 out of 100.