News item | 12-05-2023 | 4:00 pm
Refugees from Ukraine who have fled to the Netherlands because of the conflict in their country and who are uncertain about their future may have psychological or psychosocial problems. Soon they will be able to receive support in their own language from Ukrainian psychologists who have also fled because of the war. The government has appointed two parties to organize this: the Empatia partnership and the Ukrainian Displaced Persons Psychosocial Assistance Service Desk (LOOP).
Netherlands Council for Refugees, OPORA Foundation and PsyGlobal together form Empatia. They assist psychologists in the credential evaluation process by Nuffic and then link them to a suitable workplace and to Ukrainians with a need for care. The LOOP is the information, referral and advice center for professionals and parties who work with refugees from Ukraine (for example government agencies and healthcare providers). They can go here with questions about psychosocial assistance.
State Secretary Eric van der Burg: “I am very happy that Ukrainian psychologists can work in the Netherlands. On the one hand, they can help their compatriots with psychological and psychosocial questions in their own language. On the other hand, Ukrainian psychologists can continue to develop and take the knowledge and experience gained here with them when they return to Ukraine.”
Mental health care accessible
An important advantage of using Ukrainian psychologists is that mental health care becomes more accessible to those who need it. This can prevent aggravation of complaints. The psychologists can do work that matches their education and work experience. Depending on their credential evaluation, they can work as a basic psychologist in curative care or as a professional in preventive care at a municipality, GGD location or social organization. This relieves the shortage on the Dutch labor market.
Participation and self-reliance
It looks like the conflict in Ukraine will last for some time and refugees will stay here longer. That is why the government is increasingly focusing on their participation and self-reliance. Finding work that is more in line with the level of education followed is also part of this. Ukrainian psychologists are the first professional group to be deployed in this way for people with the same cultural background. The first Ukrainian psychologists are expected to start work in the course of 2023.