This page was translated automatically from Turkish. Read the original

This page is an AI-assisted Turkish summary of the study presented at the 26th World Congress of Psychiatry. The study belongs to the presenting authors; please refer to the original source when citing it.

EV0780

Bridging the gap between psychological distress, trust, and help-seeking preferences among Ukrainian migrants in Austria

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH DISTRESS, TRUST, AND HELP-SEEKING PREFERENCES FOR UKRAINIAN MIGRANTS IN THE EU

High rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms were identified among forcibly displaced Ukrainians in Vienna; language was the most frequently reported barrier, and formal services delivered in Ukrainian were the most preferred form of support.

The study aimed to examine perceived barriers, facilitators, and preferences regarding access to mental health services among forcibly displaced Ukrainians living in Austria. The study used a cross-sectional, anonymous online survey design, with data collected in Vienna in April and May 2026; measures included the PHQ-8, GAD-7, and PCL-5, along with open-ended questions on barriers, preferred sources of support, and recommendations. A total of 65 participants completed the demographic section, and 30 completed all open-ended sections; 86.2% (n = 56) of the sample were women, and 75.4% (n = 49) had been living in Austria for 2 to 5 years. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while open-ended responses were analyzed using inductive thematic coding conducted independently by two coders. Mean scores were 11.74 for the PHQ-8 (SD 5.67; n = 62), 10.25 for the GAD-7 (SD 5.42; n = 51), and 34.13 for the PCL-5 (SD 16.67; n = 52). Regarding severity, 32% (n = 20) of participants scored in the moderate range, 18% (n = 11) in the moderately severe range, and 10% (n = 6) in the severe range on the PHQ-8; 31% (n = 16) scored in the moderate range and 24% (n = 12) in the severe range on the GAD-7; and 54% (n = 28) scored at or above the clinical cutoff of 31 on the PCL-5. In the open-ended responses (n = 30), the most frequently reported barriers were language (66.67%; n = 20), financial difficulties (43.33%; n = 13), cultural barriers (23.33%; n = 7), distrust of formal services and the Austrian healthcare system (23.33%; n = 7), and systemic barriers such as waiting times (13.33%; n = 4). Reported preferences included formal support at 83.33% (n = 25), Ukraine-specific support at 73.33% (n = 22), support that was both formal and delivered in Ukrainian at 66.66% (n = 20), and community or other resources at 30.00% (n = 9); regarding treatment utilization, none of the participants reported receiving no mental health treatment (0.0%). In conclusion, the poster recommends linguistically and culturally responsive care, strengthening community-based entry points through trusted Ukrainian community organizations, and integrating psychological care with housing, employment, financial, and legal support.

All WCP 2026 summaries