Belgian health care centres to offer psychosocial support to Ukrainian refugees

Belgium’s Centre for General Welfare (CAW) announced it will be offering psychosocial support to refugees from Ukraine to help cope with the consequences of the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The CAW, a first-line organisation that offers psychosocial support to people with increased vulnerability, stressed the importance of quick support in processing feelings after war violence.

“We know from experience that in case of mental unwellness, stress-related complaints, fear or coping with war violence, psychosocial assistance must be provided quickly. This is an important factor in preventing later problems,” Bart Claes, general director of CAW Group, said in a statement.

The already existing feelings of fear, anxiety and uncertainty that many refugees feel are further exacerbated by the fact they arrive in an unknown country, where they have to figure out the logistics of living there while dealing with their trauma, which is why the CAW is offering its services.

As part of the psychosocial support it can offer, the CAW will ask refugees what they need, and assist them in finding the right information and services, as well as providing a listening ear and reassurance. It has a low-threshold offer on mental unwellness, meaning it works to detect problems early on and prevent them from getting ​
​worse.

© BELGA