„There Were Times when I Thought I Was Going to Go Mad from the Isolation“: the Lived Experience of Loneliness of Refugees from Ukraine

Veronika Racko

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In this article, we mapped and analysed the living situation of refugee families from Ukraine now located in the Czech city of Ostrava, with a specific focus on their perceptions of loneliness. THEORETICAL BASE: The phenomenon of loneliness and declining mental health among refugees is a subject of professional debate, with research showing loneliness has a negative impact on mental health, though it is often overlooked in services. METHODS: We used a qualitative research strategy, specifically a participatory approach to research, where we sought to gain the perspective of targeted people with lived experiences of loneliness as refugees and involve them in co-designing the research process. OUTCOMES: Loneliness appears to be an important theme in the lives of refugees from Ukraine, and the context for this loneliness is the inability to find stable employment in the field or properly care for children. SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATIONS: Loneliness among people fleeing Ukraine can be addressed at several levels, namely through increased individual awareness, community support, and policy interventions.

Keywords
refugees, loneliness, social work with refugees, Ukraine

p. 22-31