In Ukraine, the consequences of the war are getting worse. The weather gets colder and the bombings haven't stopped. In late November, we went there to show you how the population is coping. And what we are doing to help.
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress are the most common, but often those who live in war zones develop psychological distress of various kinds and disorders such as anxiety or depression. Inna explains this, who at Sumy manages the work of the psychologists of Helpgroup, an association supported by AVSI that wants to help families to emotionally manage this period of conflict.
"The biggest fear is to make the wrong choice for my son", says Victoria, a patient from Inna whom we reach at her home, on the seventh floor of a popular apartment building in the suburbs. We tried to get there before dark and went up on foot because even today there is no electricity.
"When the alarms sound I don't know whether to take my son to the shelter or let him sleep. I would like to stay in my city, but sometimes I think it would be safer to leave", Victoria confides in to us.
Inna came to visit her to inform her about the parenting courses that Helpgroup organizes together with AVSI, designed precisely to help mothers in the relationship with their children. For children, on the other hand, they organize recreational activities in schools and excursions during the weekends.
We say goodbye to Victoria ahead of schedule because, as we chat, our smartphones warn us that there is a new bomb alert in Sumy. "I hope the war disappears from the world. Peace and kindness should take the place of anger and violence", Victoria vents before walking us to the door.
Oggi decide di restare a casa con suo figlio e di non scendere nel rifugio. Gli attacchi russi questa volta sembrano eToday she decides to stay at home with her son and not go down to the shelter. Russian attacks this time seem to be far away.
The biggest fear is to make the wrong choice for my son. When the alarms sound I don't know whether to take my son to the shelter or let him sleep. I would like to stay in my city, but sometimes I think it would be safer to leave.
Victoria, Ukrainian mother in Sumy. AVSI and the local Helpgroup association involved her in meetings to manage her relationship with her children during the war
