Psychosocial Factors of Maintaining Mental Balance in Conditions of Armed Conflict

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56294/hl2025702

Keywords:

social and psychological aspects, mental health, social support, resilience, adaptation, post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Introduction: Against the backdrop of a protracted military conflict, mental health is a significant concern for both military personnel and civilians who experienced numerous traumas. The study focused on key aspects of psychological dynamics during wartime and the adaptation to social life. The purpose of the article was to analyze the socio-psychological aspects of the mental health support system in wartime.

Methods: The research methodology included analytical and synthetic methods, generalization, systematization, abstraction, and comparison.

Results: The article identified the main mental health problems and difficulties that arose as a result of adaptation processes, the development of resilience, and psychological stability. It analyzed the specifics of destructive mental states under conditions of military aggression.

The study investigated the peculiarities of negative mental states—particularly stress, apathy, anxiety, depression, frustration, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It examined the characteristic symptoms and progression of these conditions and proposed potential ways to minimize their manifestation through the use of personal resources and active social support.

Considerable attention was given to understanding the psychological state of both the civilian population during active warfare and combatants, with the aim of ensuring timely assistance for various mental disorders.

Conclusions: The article emphasized the need to integrate effective psychological programs focused on building resilience, providing rehabilitation, and supporting the mental health of both civilians and military personnel. It also highlighted the importance of raising public awareness about mental health issues during wartime and identifying effective strategies to address them.

References

1. World Health Organization. World mental health report: transforming mental health for all [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2022 [cited 2025 Jun 9]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049338

2. Goto R, Pinchuk I, Kolodezhny O, Pimenova N, Skokauskas N. Mental health services in Ukraine during the early phases of the 2022 Russian invasion. Br J Psychiatry. 2023;222(2):82–7. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2022.170

3. Chepurko H, Soboliev A. Mental health of Ukrainians: wartime challenges. In: Collection of scientific papers «ΛΌГOΣ»; 2023 May 26; Boston, USA. p.179–82. https://doi.org/10.36074/logos-26.05.2023.048

4. Simms A, Fear NT, Greenberg N. The impact of having inadequate safety equipment on mental health. Occup Med (Lond). 2020;70(4):278–81. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqaa101

5. Adams RE, Hu Y, Figley CR, Urosevich TG, Hoffman SN, Kirchner HL, et al. Risk and protective factors associated with mental health among female military veterans: results from the veterans’ health study. BMC Womens Health. 2021;21:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01181-z

6. Randles R, Finnegan A. Veteran help-seeking behaviour for mental health issues: a systematic review. BMJ Mil Health. 2022;168(1):99–104. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjmilitary-2021-001903

7. Kostruba NS, Kostruba A. Social support as a factor of mental health in wartime conditions: Communication and interaction. Sci Stud Soc Polit Psychol. 2024;30(1):39–45. https://doi.org/10.61727/sssppj/1.2024.39

8. Rozanov V, Frančišković T, Marinić I, Macarenco MM, Letica-Crepulja M, Mužinić L, et al. Mental health consequences of war conflicts. In: Javed A, Fountoulakis K, editors. Advances in Psychiatry. Cham: Springer; 2019. p. 281–304. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70554-5_17

9. Russell DW, Russell CA, Hill RP. Mental health service utilization after military missions: The double-edged consequences of unit-level organizational support. Psychol Serv. 2022;19(Suppl 2):113–25. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000542

10. Anjum G, Aziz M, Hamid HK. Life and mental health in limbo of the Ukraine war: How can helpers assist civilians, asylum seekers and refugees affected by the war? Front Psychol. 2023;14:1129299. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1129299

11. Zasiekina L, Duchyminska T, Bifulco A, Bignardi G. War trauma impacts in Ukrainian combat and civilian populations: Moral injury and associated mental health symptoms. Mil Psychol. 2024;36(5):555–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2023.2235256

12. Mialkovska L, Pimenova O, Savchuk N, Moklytsia H, Stasiuk L, Shkarlatiuk K. Crisis communication in human capital management during war: Addressing social and psychological challenges. Amazon Investiga. 2024a;13(84):183–96. https://doi.org/10.34069/AI/2024.84.12.11

13. • Mialkovska L, Sternichuk V, Petruk V, Honchar K, Knysh E, Panchenko V, et al. Contemporary English media discourse: Linguistic, pragmatic, social and digital aspects. Ad Alta J Interdiscip Res. 2024b;14/01-XXXIX:51–156. https://doi.org/10.33543/140139151156

14. Britt TW, Wilson CA, Sawhney G, Black KJ. Perceived unit climate of support for mental health as a predictor of stigma, beliefs about treatment, and help-seeking behaviors among military personnel. Psychol Serv. 2020;17(2):141–50. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000362

15. Easterbrook B, Brown A, Millman H, Blyderveen SV, Lanius R, Heber A, et al. The mental health experience of treatment-seeking military members and public safety personnel: A qualitative investigation of trauma and non-trauma-related concerns. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2022;42(6):252–60. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/neurosci_inst_pubs/140/

16. Korolchuk O, Zyma I, Khrapatyi S, Vikhliaiev M, Zavalko K. Current issues of state regulation of psycho-social support in the conditions of war in Ukraine. Neuropsychiatr Neuropsychol. 2023;18(1–2):76–84. https://doi.org/10.5114/nan.2023.129075

17. Thériault FL, Gardner W, Momoli F, Garber BG, Kingsbury M, Clayborne Z, et al. Mental health service use in depressed military personnel: a systematic review. Mil Med. 2020;185(7-8):e1255–62. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usaa015

18. Bürgin D, Anagnostopoulos D, Vitiello B, Sukale T, Schmid M, Fegert JM. Impact of war and forced displacement on children’s mental health – multilevel, needs-oriented, and trauma-informed approaches. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2022;31(6):845–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-022-01974-z

19. Veterans Reintegration Program: Analytical report dated 14 July 2021 [Internet]. IREX; 2021. https://www.irex.org/sites/default/files/Veterans%E2%80%99%20Current%20Employment%20Conditions%20%E2%80%93%20Ukrainian.pdf

20. Kimhi S. Prediction of societal and community resilience among Ukrainian and Polish populations during the Russian war against Ukraine. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2023;93:103792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103792

21. Mialkovska L, Yanovets A, Sternichuk V, Nykoliuk T, Honchar K, Khnykina O. Manipulative tactics in modern English-language media discourse. Conhec Divers. 2023;15(38):345–62. https://doi.org/10.18316/rcd.v15i38.11077

22. Williams NL. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in treating veterans with PTSD: Efficiency and multiculturalism. J Ment Health Soc Behav. 2021;3(1):JMHSB-129. https://doi.org/10.33790/jmhsb1100129

23. Jones N, Jones M, Greenberg N, Phillips A, Simms A, Wessely S. UK military women: mental health, military service and occupational adjustment. Occup Med (Lond). 2020;70(4):235–42. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqaa019

24. Buselli R, Corsi M, Veltri A, Baldanzi S, Chiumiento M, Del Lupo E, et al. Mental health of Health Care Workers (HCWs): a review of organizational interventions put in place by local institutions to cope with new psychosocial challenges resulting from COVID-19. Psychiatry Res. 2021;299:113847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113847

25. Karstoft KI, Eskelund K, Gradus JL, Andersen SB, Nissen LR. Early prediction of mental health problems following military deployment: Integrating pre-and post-deployment factors in neural network models. J Psychiatr Res. 2023;163:109–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.05.014

26. Kennedy CH, Zillmer EA, editors. Military psychology: Clinical and operational applications. New York: Guilford Publications; 2022.

27. Misca G, Augustus J, Russell J, Walker J. Meaning(s) of transition(s) from military to civilian life at the intersection with mental health: implications for clinical settings. Front Psychol. 2023;14:1142528. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1142528

28. Williamson C, Palmer L, Leightley D, Pernet D, Chandran D, Leal R, et al. Military veterans and civilians’ mental health diagnoses: an analysis of secondary mental health services. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2023;58(7):1029–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-022-02411-x

Downloads

Published

2025-07-08

How to Cite

1.
Maiboroda O, Petruk V, Shkarlatiuk K, Berezna I, Terpeliuk V. Psychosocial Factors of Maintaining Mental Balance in Conditions of Armed Conflict. Health Leadership and Quality of Life [Internet]. 2025 Jul. 8 [cited 2025 Sep. 17];4:702. Available from: https://hl.ageditor.ar/index.php/hl/article/view/702