Psychosocial support methods for working with Ukrainian refugee families experiencing war trauma

Abstract

The massive war launched by Russia against Ukraine has triggered an enormous crisis of protection, support and restrictions on people’s freedoms, leading to an unprecedented forced withdrawal of the population. Tens of thousands of people have been killed or injured, and the majority of the population has had to flee their homes. According to information from the United Nations, millions of Ukrainians have left for European countries, while others have been forcibly displaced internally. Emigration has not only been driven by the real risk of death, but also by the consistent violation of civil rights: the killing of innocent people, physical and psychological violence, disappearances and the destruction of public facilities, according to the reports (UNHCR and OHCHR 2025). Statistics from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) show that between 24 February 2022 and 8 April 2025, more than 6.9 million people have left Ukraine, of whom around 6.3 million were registered in Europe and a further 560,200 outside Europe. Population composition statistics reveal that the most vulnerable social groups are predominant among the migrants, with women accounting for approximately 46% and minors for approximately 32% of all registered Ukrainian war refugees (UNHCR, 2025).

The object of the study: psychosocial support methods for Ukrainian refugee families experiencing war trauma. Aim of the study: to analyse the variety and applicability of psychosocial support methods in social work practice when working with war-traumatised individuals/families. 1) To describe the possible application of psychosocial support techniques in social work practice with war refugee families; 2) To examine how Ukrainian refugee families accept psychosocial support and how it affects their quality of life; 3) To identify the main problems and barriers that Ukrainian war refugees experience when trying to receive psychosocial support; 4) To analyse how social workers provide support in the context of cultural differences. A qualitative research methodology was chosen to achieve the study’s aim. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with social workers and Ukrainian war refugees. The research was carried out in 2025, in one of the district municipalities of Lithuania.

The study highlighted that social workers used assistance methods based on cultural understanding and inter-institutional interaction when providing psychosocial support to war refugees in Lithuania. Families fleeing the war in Lithuania recognised emotional and social support as an essential and critically needed tool to restore psychological balance and strengthen daily functioning. War refugees from Ukraine face significant barriers that reduce access to psychological and social support, particularly in remote areas. Key difficulties include a lack of information in Ukrainian, language barriers, cultural misunderstanding, inconsistency of services between institutions, a lack of legal assistance and a lack of medical care and accommodation.