Two weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Petro* and his sister were sent to Poland. Their home was just 80 km from the frontline.

Petro, 17 at the time, and his sister, a few years older, arrived in Warsaw, which was shockingly different from what they knew. The local church helped them, and they settled in with a family for about a year.

Without his parents by his side, Petro had to learn to navigate life on his own in a big city, not knowing the language or customs, or legally being an adult. The upheaval of forced displacement took a huge toll on Petro’s mental health. “I haven’t felt much for the last four years,” shares Petro. “I cut myself off from the pain because if I allow myself to feel, I might break.”

Among the many challenges, his church in Warsaw has been a source of light, enabling him to grow and develop a range of skills through serving. Petro also began volunteering with a number of OM activities, including several OpSAFE camps (a programme supported by OM to help children affected by trauma). As a leader, his role had to change from being the one who needed help to the one who helped others.

“I’m extremely grateful for all the opportunities I have here and the people who support me,” Petro shares. He speaks Polish fluently and has adjusted to life in Warsaw. He has a good job, and the community he discovered is like family to him, but he says it will never fully feel like home. “There’s always something missing.” Sometimes he wonders whether the hardships of being in Ukraine would be worth the feeling of being at home.

Petro is not alone in his wondering. He mentions that a lot of Ukrainians share similar thoughts to his: that they try not to feel because everything is so overwhelming; it would be too much. He sees his story as “too normal”, despite the daily struggles he faces.

Research shows that about one in three refugees suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression or severe anxiety**. With over one million Ukrainians living in Poland, that means for a huge number of people, many of their practical needs have been met, like Petro’s, but the biggest challenges are the ones that are unseen.

The OM team in Poland, seeing that need firsthand among those attending OM-run activities, was compelled to act. In response, OM’s Psalm Counselling Centre was opened in November 2024, offering support to people in their heart language (in addition to Ukrainian and Russian, consultations are also available in English and Persian). Professional specialists rooted in Christian values are available to support those who have fled their home country. Psalm offers counselling for individuals, families, teens and couples, plus art therapy, support groups and workshops on emotional well-being. In the first full year of operation, more than 300 consultations were held.

The name Psalm reflects the nature of the space, where emotions can be expressed sincerely, just as in the biblical Psalms, where pain and hurt are met with compassion, and where those who are weary can find the strength to carry on. The freedom from language barriers is often the key to truly effective therapy, and for many Ukrainians with stories like Petro’s, this is their first opportunity to work through their pain and feel again.

Please join us in prayer for more people to have access to the mental health support they need, and for the resources to enable us to help more people through the Psalm Counselling Centre.

*name changed

**https://www.unhcr.org/handbooks/ih/mental-health/mental-health