Empatia Program: Year one results (May 2023 - March 2024)

We are glad to share the impactful outcomes of the first year of the Empatia Program. From May 2023 to March 2024, we received and processed over 2,000 requests and provided at least 165 consultations through the Empatia Helpline. Here are some key highlights:

🔸Requests Breakdown:
75.2% of the requests were related to situations where individuals or groups might need psychological help.
61.3% of the requests came directly from Ukrainian displaced people.
We also received requests from various organizations, including GGD, GGZ, schools, and municipality workers, which can be categorized into:
13.1%: Requests for individuals needing mental health-related help.
11.2%: Requests for groups needing mental health-related help or informational support.

🔸Demographics:
Over half of the requests categorized as “Needs Help” or “Emergency” involved adult females (51.3%).
Almost 20% of these requests were regarding children and teenagers under 18.
Symptoms Reported: We tracked mentions of four categories of symptoms (emotional, physical, behavioural, and cognitive) from those seeking mental health-related intervention.

🔸Out of 1,075 requests:
888 individuals reported at least one category of symptoms.
Emotional symptoms were the most prominent, mentioned by 84.7% of people.
Significant shares of people also reported experiencing physical (44.1%), behavioural (44.7%), and cognitive (26.7%) symptoms.

As you can see, there is a significant demand for mental health support from Ukrainians in the Netherlands. The Empatia Program is doing crucial and impactful work, addressing the needs of those affected. We all need to continue supporting the mental health of displaced people to ensure they receive the help they need during these challenging times.

The Empatia Program remains dedicated to making structural changes to address and solve mental health challenges within our community. Thank you to everyone involved for making this possible.