“I haven’t felt much for the last four years,” shares Petro* (Ukraine). “I cut myself off from the pain because if I allow myself to feel, I might break.”

Two weeks after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the frontline was 80 km (50 miles) from Petro’s small town. Petro, 17 at the time, and his sister, who is a few years older, were sent to Poland. They arrived in Warsaw, which was shockingly different from what they knew. The local church helped them settle in with a family who generously opened their home to them, and with whom they lived for about a year. Without his parents, Petro had to learn how to navigate life by himself in a big city, not knowing the language or customs or legally being an adult.

Although he left Ukraine shortly after the invasion and therefore experienced minimal direct exposure to the frequent missile and drone attacks, the upheaval of forced displacement took a huge toll on Petro’s mental health. He tells how he developed a habit of opening the Ukrainian news as soon as he wakes up — every single day begins with news about the war, about fatalities, destruction and pain. His reaction to that trauma is often a complete lack of emotion.

Struggle to belong

Amongst the many challenges, one source of light for Petro has been his involvement with his church in Warsaw. He emphasises how meaningful it has been to grow and develop different skills through serving. Petro also volunteered at several OpSAFE camps (a programme supported by OM to help children affected by trauma) and other OM activities. In being a leader, his role had to change from being the one who needed help to being the one who helped others.

“I’m extremely grateful for all the opportunities I have here and the people who support me,” Petro shares, but admits that being in Poland without his family is difficult. Petro speaks Polish fluently without an accent 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. I cannot express myself fully in Polish; I always feel like a foreigner, like someone who doesn’t belong.” Sometimes he wonders whether the hardships of being in Ukraine would be worth the feeling of being at home.

Shared experience, unique stories

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 a huge number of people are experiencing these conditions, each with their own unique story, challenges and struggles. Although many of the practical needs of Ukrainians have been met and many, like Petro, have good jobs, the biggest challenges for many Ukrainians are the ones that are unseen.

One barrier for foreigners living in Poland is not being able to find support in their own language; therefore, they have no one to turn to for help. The OM team, seeing that need firsthand among those attending OM activities, was compelled to act and offer what they could in support.

Bringing freedom

Opened in November 2024, OM’s Psalm Counselling Centre offers support to people in their own 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. Depending on the individual, consultations are often free or subsidised.

Psalm offers counselling for individuals, families, teens and couples, plus art therapy sessions, support groups and workshops on emotional well-being. In 2025, 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.

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