The discussion explores the long-term challenges Ukraine and Europe must prepare for — covering the mental health of youth, the post-war reintegration of veterans, and the role of diaspora. Prof. Derluyn warns that winning the war is only the beginning — healing society will take generations.
She discusses why:
- Veteran reintegration will be a decades-long challenge, requiring therapy, jobs, and community dialogue.
- Children and youth will carry war trauma alongside the scars of COVID. Mental health must be a pillar of Ukraine’s recovery.
- Different survival choices (fight, flee, freeze) are normal — but can fracture cohesion.
- Diaspora and returnees will bring both skills and tensions — policies are needed to manage reintegration.
- Post-war “blame cycles” are inevitable. Societies need mechanisms to evaluate mistakes without tearing themselves apart.
Listen below or via Apple Podcasts or Spotify
The Eastern Frontline podcast is hosted in the European Parliament by the Eastern Frontline Group (EFG), an alliance of 43 MEPs from 13 EU countries. Each episode, policymakers and experts discuss Europe’s most urgent security challenges, as well as the social, psychological, and human dimensions of resilience.
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