Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
October 8, 2025 Refugees and migrants
"I saw people leaving, and I joined them," says 88-year-old Yuri, recalling the day he left Ukraine. "I came to Moldova alone, without family or children to turn to," he adds.
Yuri spends most of his time in the courtyard of the Mental Health Center in Chisinau, the largest in the country. The center receives support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency.
Here, the retiree participates in therapeutic sessions that help him cope with his feelings and maintain mental balance. Yuri feels very lonely, but socializing with others at the center brings him relief. "I feel good here, but everything in Moldova is new to me," he says. "Sometimes it's fun at the center. I socialize with people, but I don't have many friends. Maybe it's because I'm getting old."
One of Yuriy's neighbors in the center is 73-year-old Ana, who often sits next to her 79-year-old friend Alla. Ana is originally from Moldova, but before the war she lived in Odessa, where she worked as a cleaner at the university.
"I liked cleaning," she says. "When I was a kid, I always helped my mom because she needed help, and I had a younger brother."
When full-scale war broke out, Ana's family persuaded her to return to Chisinau. Despite being reunited with her relatives, she felt anxious and depressed. She reluctantly agreed to see a psychologist.
© IOM/R. Severi
Ana (center) in a therapy session.
“I was in a really bad place,” she says. “At first, I didn’t want to go to this center, but in the end, I’m here.”
Ana was hospitalized in July 2023 with severe anxiety and insomnia. In the first weeks, she attended individual and group counseling sessions, art therapy, went for outdoor walks, and played team games. Gradually, her strength returned. She became more sociable, her sleep improved, and her mood lifted.
“I found my home here,” Ana says. “Now I’m not afraid anymore.”
25-year-old Margarita, known to her friends as Margo, is also undergoing therapy at the center. Originally from Ukraine, she moved to Moldova about a year ago. She has struggled with eating disorders since the age of 15.
A few months ago, her condition worsened, she realized that she could no longer cope on her own and sought help.
Back home, Margot was a mathematics teacher and analyst. The war left her unemployed and living far from her family. Every day was filled with a sense of uncertainty and insecurity.
"I never wanted to ask my family for help because I thought I was strong," she says. "I was wrong. When I came here, I realized there are people ready to support me. Never be afraid to ask for help," Margot adds.
In the first days of the war in February 2022, thousands of people crossed the Ukrainian-Moldovan border in search of safety.
"The authorities have mobilized various sectors to coordinate the response, including preparing psychological support measures," said Arkady Astrakhan, director of the Chisinau Mental Health Center, in anticipation of World Mental Health Day, celebrated on October 10.
© IOM/R. Severi
IOM experts help elderly Ukrainians get the help they need.
Since 2023, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, has been supporting the center, expanding its range of specialized mental health and psychosocial support services for refugees from Ukraine. These include mobile teams, psychiatric and psychological counseling, social activities, art therapy, housing for the elderly and people with disabilities, and a drug addiction rehabilitation program.
Currently, IOM provides nearly 90 percent of the center's services and helps train staff, including in managing complex cases. Patients with chronic or severe mental disorders still face significant challenges in accessing care.
"IOM has played a vital role in addressing these gaps," says Astrakhan. "Supporting people with such needs can be challenging, but at the same time, incredibly important."
Just an hour's drive from Chisinau, in Orhei, lies the Community Mental Health Center, renovated by IOM teams. There, the organization's experts work with people with severe mental disorders.
Since the beginning of the war, 1,080 Ukrainians have received specialized psychological support through IOM programs in Moldova. Peer-to-peer initiatives have become a key element of this support. Ukrainians with medical training or relevant life experience assist their compatriots.
In Moldova's community centers, support takes many forms. For Yuri, the most important thing is communication, which helps him feel less alone. For others, it's therapy sessions or even just the knowledge that help is nearby. Their stories remind us that even in the shadow of war, healing is possible.
*This article was prepared based on materials from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.