They warn of the need to take care of mental health in the face of a possible nuclear event in Ukraine

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R.I.

Updated:31/05/2022 18: 28h

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The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has had disastrous humanitarian consequences, forcing scores of Ukrainians to flee their homes and be separated from their loved ones, while exposing people of all ages to the destruction, pain and trauma of war. The ongoing conflict will undoubtedly have serious consequences for the mental health of many Ukrainians, but these could be further aggravated by intentional or accidental nuclear events in Ukraine.

Researchers from the University of the Uniformed Services in Maryland and Musashino University in Japan have published a paper exploring some of the mental health-related issues that could arise in the event of a nuclear event in Ukraine.

Their study, published in Wiley’s Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, outlines some of the actions governments and health systems could take to prepare for the mental health consequences of such an event.

“Regardless of the extent to which radiological exposure ultimately occurs in the Ukraine conflict, the potential for such events creates a significant risk to global health security,” write Joshua C. Morganstein, Robert J. Ursano, David M. Benedek, Mie Kurosawa, and Jun Shigemura, the study’s authors.

“Health systems play a critical role in responding to radiological events and must be prepared to address the health needs of direct radiological exposure and mental health issues, which are important and complex.”

While Ukrainian citizens bear the brunt of Russia’s invasion, the ongoing conflict also affects both neighboring countries and more remote countries that have economic ties to Ukraine. If a nuclear event were to occur in Ukraine, its mental health-related consequences could affect both Ukraine’s health systems and those of neighboring countries that are receiving refugees or that might experience the consequences of released radiological material.

These events create fear, uncertainty, and a heightened perception of risk, as well as a decreased sense of safety, insomnia, increased use of alcohol and other substances, interpersonal conflict, and stigma or guilt within and between communities.

In their article, Morganstein and colleagues consider different radiological events that have taken place in the past and describe some of the mental health consequences of these events. This includes the use of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, as well as the accidents that occurred in Three Mile Island in 1979, Cernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011.

“These events create fear, uncertainty, and a heightened perception of risk, as well as a decreased sense of safety, insomnia, increased use of alcohol and other substances, interpersonal conflict, and stigma or guilt within and between communities,” they write.

“Rates of psychological disorders (eg, major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder) were significantly increased with some studies finding symptoms to persist for decades after the event.”

Previous research suggests that the two groups that suffer the most mental health problems after accidents or radiological events are disaster responders and mothers of young children. However, these events can significantly impact all citizens exposed to radiation, as well as those who are not sure if they were exposed to it or not.

Rates of psychological disorders (eg, major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder) were significantly increased with some studies finding symptoms to persist for decades after the event

The document outlines a series of actions that, in its opinion, governments and social workers should prioritize when preparing for these events.

First, the team suggests that governments should start educating citizens about the health risks associated with radiation exposure, as well as behaviors that could reduce these risks or protect their families.

Governments should start educating the public about the health risks associated with radiation exposure

In addition, Morgenstein and colleagues stress the importance of clearly communicating which scientific sources to trust in the event of an event or what to do at different stages of radiation exposure, in plain language that all citizens can understand.

Finally, the researchers highlight the importance of early interventions aimed at building resilience and protecting the mental health of Ukrainian citizensas well as that of people living in neighboring countries.

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