The experiences, coping practices, and mental health of Ukrainian young people living amid wartime Ukraine

Entering into its fourth year, the war that has followed Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has had devastating consequences for all Ukrainians. Through a series of in-depth interviews with young Ukrainians (aged 18–32), this study explores the way in which these immense hardships have impacted their lives, specific to their mental and emotional health, employment or study situation, aspirations for the future, and social habits. Universally, the young people interviewed shared their perspectives on the profound ways in which the war has affected their day-to-day lives, their social engagement with others, and their hopes and plans for the future. Participants also shared their views on the significant psychological distress they have experienced in response to the war, the resilience and resolve this time has fostered within them, and the need for greater support from abroad. These findings provide important insights for local and international communities on how to best address the needs of this generation of young Ukrainians now and in the future.