Mental health and integration are deeply connected for displaced Ukrainians in Sweden

Presenter: Viktoriia Thander, Researcher and Methodologist, Hug (Help Ukraine Gothenburg)

For Ukrainians displaced to Sweden, finding safety has not necessarily meant feeling safe. Research presented at a TRANSCONNECT seminar shows how loneliness, uncertainty, disrupted professional identities and the demands of maintaining family ties across borders can affect mental health and integration.

From safety to a sense of home

By the end of 2025, 40,822 Ukrainians had been registered in Sweden under the Temporary Protection Directive. Many have found safety in Sweden, however the psychological effects of war and displacement continue to shape everyday life.

At the first Civica TRANSCONNECT research seminar, Viktoriia Thander from Help Ukraine Gothenburg presented findings from four years of research on mental health and integration among Ukrainians refugees in Sweden. The research combined surveys and in-depth interviews and examined well-being, integration and belonging.

For participants, integration was about more than language, employment or financial stability. It also meant feeling welcomed, building meaningful relationships and becoming part of the society around them.

Well-being is declining

The research points to a concerning development in well-being.

In 2024 and 2025, almost 27 percent of participants reported well-being below a moderate level. By January and October 2025, that figure had increased to 40 percent.

For some, low well-being affected everyday functioning, including parenting, caregiving and interactions with authorities and public services. Finding work, securing housing and navigating unfamiliar systems could add further pressure.

Professional recognition was another important factor. Participants described how having previous qualifications and experience go unrecognized, or having to take jobs they are overqualified for, affected their self-esteem. The share reporting this issue increased from 21 percent in May 2024 and January 2025 to 34 percent during 2025.

The research also identified significant mental health risks. In both May 2024 and January–October 2025, 36 percent of participants reported suicidal ideation. Participants also reported symptoms of anxiety and depression and indicators associated with a probability of PTSD. These measures were self-reported and are not clinical diagnoses.

Loneliness and belonging

Among the strongest findings was the role of loneliness.

In 20 in-depth interviews conducted in 2025, every participant identified loneliness as one of the main mental health challenges they faced. Separation from family, cultural barriers and difficulties forming deeper relationships in Sweden all contributed.

Some described going days, or even weeks, without a meaningful conversation. The issue was not simply a lack of social contact, but the absence of people with whom they could share concerns, frustrations and everyday experiences.

Living across borders

The research also examined what Thander described as “forced transnationality” living in Sweden while continuing to care for and support family members in Ukraine.

In 13 in-depth interviews conducted in 2023 and 2024, participants described the challenge of building a life in Sweden while maintaining family and social ties.

For some, this meant managing parenting and caregiving across borders. Mothers raising children in Sweden while supporting relatives in Ukraine could face particularly heavy responsibilities. Young people who arrived without their families sometimes had to manage housing, education and work while also supporting relatives back home.

These overlapping demands could contribute to exhaustion and burnout, as well as anxiety, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation.

At the same time, participants had different needs. Some wanted to maintain strong ties with Ukraine, while others wanted more distance. The research therefore points to the importance of understanding individual circumstances rather than assuming that integration means choosing between one society and another.

A broader understanding of integration

The seminar discussion raised broader questions about resilience, cultural participation, diaspora and belonging.

The research suggests that integration cannot be understood only in terms of employment, language, housing or legal status. Mental health can shape a person's ability to participate in society, while the conditions of integration can also affect mental health.

Rebuilding a life may mean adapting to a new society while maintaining relationships across borders, rebuilding professional identities and finding a community where they feel accepted.

What can support integration?

Participants also identified barriers to accessing mental health support, including unclear pathways to services, language and cultural barriers, stigma and limited mental health literacy. Geographic access was another concern, particularly in smaller towns and municipalities where support services and NGOs may be less available.

Help Ukraine Gothenburg has used these findings to develop and refine its support work, including the Better You and Me framework. The framework addresses emotional, psychological, psychophysiological and sustainable integration needs. Its programs have reached more than 1,000 participants through individual and group support, psychoeducation, body-oriented practices, creative therapy and community-based activities.