Forced displacement puts a heavy strain on wellbeing. In conflict-affected populations, about 1 in 5 people experience a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, PTSD or more severe disorders, and many more face significant distress that benefits from timely psychosocial support.
Poland currently hosts 992,505 people from Ukraine under EU temporary protection (as of 30 June 2025), one of the largest totals in the EU and a clear sign of the ongoing need for accessible, community-based mental health services for both refugees and host communities.
Project HOPE Polska operates 3 mobile MHPSS units that serve 9 refugee centers across the Małopolska region. Each unit includes a psychologist, social worker, and intercultural tutor. Support includes:
Support includes:
- Personalized care: Psychologists and social workers provide individual support tailored to residents’ emotional and mental health needs.
- Group programming: Activities focus on psychoeducation, emotional regulation, recreation, and skills—e.g., sports, stretching, crafts, and other therapeutic practices that build social connection and resilience.
- Practical support: Teams offer individual case management—help with medical appointments, CVs, document translation, and navigation of local services—to restore stability and autonomy.
- Language & social integration: Group and individual language sessions, excursions and outdoor activities and summer camps complement psychosocial care and help refugees connect not only with each other but also with the local communities.
The established mobile teams continue serving refugee accommodation centers such as:
- Hotel FANTAZJA: Located in Dobczyce.
- Angela Center: Situated in Olkusz.
- Dom Wczasowy Żuraw: Located in Rabka Zdrój.
- Ostoja Górska: Located in Poręba Wielka.
- Green Hotel: Situated in Jerzmanowice County.
- Hala Cracovia Center: Located in Kraków. Project HOPE chose to support this center in Kraków due to the withdrawal of assistance previously provided by other organizations.
- Freedom Space: Located in Kraków. Following the discontinuation of external support, the provision of psychological services at the center ceased, despite a clear and ongoing need.
- Tarnów: Activities to start soon.
- Ośrodek Wypoczynkowy u Kazika: Located in Jabłonka.
To date, a total of 1794 people made 23,585 visits to three operating MHPSS Mobile Units that provided the above-mentioned services at 12 refugee accommodation centers, 4 schools and through 7 language centers.
Previously, Project HOPE Polska supported local partners Zustricz Foundation (an all-Ukrainian women local organization in Kraków) in Kraków in establishing Psychological Support Center for Refugees and Migrants and Podkarpackie Stowarzyszenie dla Aktywnych Rodzin (PSAR) in Rzeszów to open the TUTU Center, Project HOPE helped deliver mental health and psychosocial support for Ukrainian refugees—reaching more than 17,000 children and caregivers.