Master's thesis explores aspects of mental health in refugees from Ukraine who began arriving in Slovenia in the aftermath of Russian aggression against their country in February 2022. A comparative and descriptive research method was used in the first part of the thesis. In contrast, the quantitative research method was applied in the empirical part, as we tried to cover as large a sample of people as possible, their experiences, and their needs regarding the professional and lay work. In the empirical part, we present the results of the survey, obtained by a questionnaire in which adult persons from Ukraine with temporary protection status in Slovenia participated. In the interpretation of the results and suggestions, we relied on numerous conversations with people who are involved in one way or another in the mental health of refugees from Ukraine: the head of a non-governmental organization, migration researchers, intercultural mediator for Ukrainian and Ukrainian psychologists who work with affected populations. Above all, we heavily relied on our own experiences and conversations with refugees from Ukraine as we held the position of a caseworker in a humanitarian organization for almost the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis. Our results have shown the most common signs of mental distress do not differ much from those mentioned in the literature; self-assessment of emotional state is neither good nor bad; strategies focused on the problem, and strategies focused on emotions are used to cope with stress. The most acute issues that affect refugees from Ukraine in Slovenia are uncertainty regarding temporary protection and concerns regarding their families in Ukraine. Less than half of the respondents think they need psychosocial assistance, and more than half have had experience with it. Results have shown that psychosocial aid is not well adapted to the target population, refugees are poorly acquainted with psychosocial services and assistance for strengthening mental health, at the same time, more than half of them believe that access to aid is not easy, and many of them do not know where and how to access assistance. Psychosocial aid was often reported as needed or required, followed by employment and accommodation. Based on the acquired information, suggestions were made that present a potential starting point for changes and improvements for professional and social workers in (non-governmental and humanitarian) organizations aiding refugees, as they could thus adapt their programs and activities, which are intended for lay relief. For policymakers, the information may help adjust their policies and introduce new measures, strategies, and opportunities for refugees at the system level.
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