Preventing a Lost Generation in Ukraine

The Unprecedented Trauma Among Ukraine’s Children

The ongoing war in Ukraine has inflicted unparalleled psychological and emotional distress on its youngest citizens. With approximately half of all displaced Ukrainians being children, the disruption to their education and daily lives has been catastrophic. This report delves into the challenges faced by these conflict-affected youth and outlines four crucial policy priorities aimed at mitigating long-term psychological, social, and educational deficits.

Strengthening Mental Health Support Systems

To address the widespread psychosocial distress among children, it is imperative to bolster mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) systems. The World Health Organization has developed a “target model” for psychosocial support in Ukraine, which includes extending care through oblast-level plans. However, these efforts must be rapidly funded and integrated with child protection and educational services.

The policy recommendation emphasizes expanding training programs for child psychologists and social workers.

Additionally, primary health clinics and schools should incorporate MHPSS into their routine practices to ensure a more comprehensive support network. Community mental health teams are also crucial in reaching displaced families and frontline towns, providing the necessary care where it is most needed.

Providing Trauma-Informed Education

To prevent a “lost generation,” education programs must be designed with trauma-informed practices at their core. This involves repairing and retrofitting schools to create safe environments that include sheltered spaces for counseling and support. Expanding nonformal and catch-up schooling is also vital, as it can reach displaced or refugee children who may have missed out on traditional classroom settings.

Teachers and staff should undergo training in trauma-informed pedagogy to ensure they can create a supportive learning environment where counselors and social workers collaborate closely with educators. Classrooms must be transformed into safe havens where students feel secure, allowing them to focus on their education without the constant threat of violence or instability.

Keeping Families Together

The separation of families is a significant concern in the context of displacement. Emergency systems like UNICEF/UNHCR “Blue Dot” centers have helped identify unaccompanied children at borders, but a more formal child-tracing mechanism is necessary both domestically and internationally. Ukraine’s government, with support from donors, should empower social services and nongovernmental organizations to track separated children, verify guardianship, and facilitate cross-line family visits or temporary foster placements.

At the same time, social safety nets must be strengthened to prevent families from separating in the first place. These measures include providing financial assistance and other support to vulnerable households, ensuring they can remain together despite the challenges posed by displacement and conflict.

Finding Abducted Children and Rehabilitation

Policymakers should invest in cross-border family tracing and legal advocacy efforts, collaborating with relevant agencies such as the Red Cross and the U.N. Missing Children project. Documenting every known case of abducted children is crucial for effective reintegration.

Returning children will require immediate psychological support to address their trauma, language or educational assistance if they have experienced a different curriculum, and careful reintegration into local communities.

Schools and child protection agencies must be prepared to provide these children with tailored counseling and peer support groups to help them navigate the challenges of identity issues and potential stigma. The ultimate goal is to ensure that every child affected by conflict in Ukraine receives the care and support they need to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not an official policy or position of New Lines Institute. This report underscores the urgent need for a coordinated and comprehensive approach to support Ukraine’s conflict-affected youth, ensuring that no child is left behind in the face of ongoing trauma and displacement.