A psychological guide for people hosting refugees from Ukraine

The war in Ukraine continues. Thousands of refugees have already arrived in Poland, seeking refuge with us. A practical guide prepared by a psychotraumatologist has been prepared for all those who have decided to accept the inhabitants of Ukraine under their roof or intend to do so. How to provide effective help to people in such a dire situation as the present one? What to do to make them feel safe with us? How to provide support without exceeding your abilities? In the “Guide for people hosting refugees from Ukraine” you will find answers and tips.

1. A special guide has been prepared for people who accept or consider accepting refugees from Ukraine
2. “A guide for people hosting refugees from Ukraine” prepared by psychologist and psychotraumatologist Katarzyna Podleska, MA
3. It is very important to remember that we accept people who are fleeing from war and who have had traumatic experiences behind them. How can you help them in such a situation, what to pay attention to?
4. Check your health. Just answer these questions
5. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Another day Ukrainians are fighting bravely for their country. Meanwhile, in Poland, thousands of people are involved in helping refugees from Ukraine. Many have decided, sometimes spontaneously, to take them into their homes. This includes for them the “Guidebook for people hosting refugees from Ukraine” was created. It was prepared by a psychologist and psychotraumatologist, Katarzyna Podleska from the HumanDoc Foundation. «Sometimes a heart attack may not be enough. You have to prepare and predict whether we will sometimes multiply the stress and provide real help »- one of the comments posted on the foundation’s Facebook aptly indicates.

Guest from Ukraine under your roof. What to take care of before arriving and on the first day

The HumanDoc Foundation guide shows how to help effectively, but also in a way that does not exceed your abilities. What is worth taking care of even before the arrival of guests from Ukraine is to prepare a place / room that we will allocate for them and remove all things that we may need from it – it is about providing the newcomers with a sense of privacy. It is also worth preparing a place for them where they can store their belongings, prepare bed linen and towels.

Arriving in unfamiliar places and people, our guests may be embarrassed and distrustful. «Lots of smiles, basic information (eg bathroom and sleeping position indication) may be what they really need at this point». Internet access may be a very important issue for them. “Remember that their families and friends often stay in Ukraine – they will want to have contact with them”.

Further part below the video.

«Some are ashamed to be in need, so you need to be sensitive to what they need and how you offer things (…). If you are not sure what to do and how to proceed, talk about it honestly with your guest or one of the foundation members »- Katarzyna Podleska emphasizes in her guide.

1. Ivan stayed in Lviv to defend his homeland. His girlfriend has been waiting at the border for two days

Guest from Ukraine under your roof. How to help a person after a traumatic experience

When accepting people fleeing the war under your roof, one must remember that “they have been traumatized, suffered loss and have seen / heard about the terrible things that are happening in their country”. In such a situation, what can we do for them, what support, what should we pay special attention to? Here are some of the tips in the guide:

1. Make sure you do everything in your power to keep those in your care safe. Protect them from further suffering.
2. Make sure you treat those you care for equally, without discriminating against them.
3. Treat people with respect. Act only in their best interest.
4. Be patient and try to understand. Recovery takes time, even if a person is undergoing therapy. Be an ally and a good listener. A person with PTSD may need to keep talking about the traumatic event. It’s also part of recovery, so avoid the temptation to tell your loved one to stop feeling what happened and start living.
5. Don’t take PTSD symptoms personally. The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) include emotional numbness, anger, and withdrawal. If a loved one seems distant, irritable, or closed, remember that this may be totally unrelated to you and your relationship.
6. Don’t insist on speaking. People with PTSD often find it very difficult to talk about what they have experienced. For some, it may even worsen the situation. So never try to force it open. Make it clear, however, that if he / she wishes to speak, you are there and will be willing to listen to him / her.

In helping others, it is very important not to forget about yourself. As Katarzyna Podleska notes in the guide, “helping refugees – a person in crisis is very exhausting. In all this, also pay attention to yourself. Do you need something, do you eat regularly and have time for yourself. Even the strongest people need to reset ».

Also read:

1. “We are taking the exam in helping Ukraine right now”. This is the best you can do
2. Zelenskiy calls for blood donation. Actions are also taking place in Poland
3. Three children were born on the Polish side of the border. Their mothers fled Ukraine