Availability of Healthcare Facilities in Ukraine Providing Mental Health Support to Patients Affected by the War

Introduction. War and armed conflicts have a profound impact on the mental health of populations, increasing the prevalence of trauma-related disorders and burdening healthcare systems. This study assesses the availability of mental health facilities for patients affected by the war in Ukraine, highlighting current capabilities, regional disparities, and barriers to accessing care. Materials and methods. We conducted a descriptive analysis of publicly available administrative data published by the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) and related government portals in 2023-2024. Results. We compared the availability of facilities and personnel with estimates of the psychological needs of the population affected by the war. As of early 2024, Ukraine has 3,346 medical institutions providing free psychological and/or psychiatric assistance, employing 8,201 qualified specialists. These include primary care providers trained under the mhGAP program, outpatient services, psychiatric hospitals, and mobile multidisciplinary teams. Over 200 psychological assistance centers are also operational across the country. However, the scale of the needs significantly exceeds the system's capacity. According to WHO and the Ministry of Health estimates, up to 15 million Ukrainians have experienced war-related psychological stress, and nearly 4 million of them require appropriate medical services. Currently, one specialist serves 1,800 affected individuals, which is far below the WHO recommended threshold for populations affected by crises. Access to services is particularly limited in regions suffering from ongoing military actions and those on the front line, such as Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, where destruction and population displacement have severely restricted access to any medical services. Although services are provided free of charge under the Medical Guarantee Program, geographic and logistical barriers, especially in rural and frontline communities, remain significant. Conclusions. Despite strategic efforts and the integration of mental health into primary healthcare systems, Ukraine's mental health infrastructure remains inadequate to meet the needs arising from the war. To ensure equitable access for vulnerable populations, urgent expansion of mobile teams, training of primary care medical workers, and investment in decentralization of services are essential.