Transforming Mental Healthcare Amidst Conflict: TeleHelp Ukraine's Telemedicine Services During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine

Background: The Russian invasion of Ukraine has greatly affected access to mental health services in the country. To address this, TeleHelp Ukraine, a non-profit organization, offers telemedicine visits and mental health support through a secure telemedicine platform. Consultations are conducted via video calls and involve the provider, patient, and interpreter. The mental health provider team consists of licensed psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists. The interpreters are highly skilled in medical terminology and fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, and English. Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the use of telehealth for mental health care during war-time. Methods: A team of volunteers conducted a thorough review of treatment notes obtained from Telehelp Ukraine's telemedicine consultations. The volunteers collected demographics, chief concerns, past medical history, impact of war on patient's condition, displacement, prescribed medications, presence of an interpreter and recommendations from each note. Patient satisfaction surveys were also collected. Results: The most common chief complaints included symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and adjustment difficulties from war-related trauma. Analysis of the data revealed a high prevalence of mental health concerns among patients seeking telemedicine services. Overall, patient's reported that they found the use of an interpreter successful during their visits. Conclusion: TeleHelp Ukraine has potential in addressing the mental health needs of the affected Ukrainian population. The organization has provided accessible and patient-centered care, contributing to the advancement of telemedicine in war-time settings. Future research should focus on long-term patient outcomes and the effectiveness of telemedicine interventions.