War, mental health and philosophy as intellectual therapy

Abstract

The war in Ukraine can cause and causes anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suspiciousness, despair, fear of uncertainty, identity crisis and ultimately the loss of meaning in life, which is one of the most dangerous “non-protocol” situations. In this case, a person needs not only psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic help, but also, most importantly, the creation of new meanings. Nowadays, despite a fairly wide range of treatment options, humanity still cannot get out of the trap of constant threats to mental health; their number is constantly increasing, which should lead to the expansion of the spectrum of treatment options in the context of a broader understanding of the phenomenon of a human being. And this is where philosophy comes to the rescue; philosophy that has enormous potential allowing us to look at our life and our future from a different angle. It is philosophy that contributes to a deep understanding of the problems and answers fundamental human questions, creates meanings that are absolutely necessary for our mental health. In fact, we create our own reality. And philosophy largely determines this reality. Effective interaction with reality, no matter how difficult and terrible this reality is, will protect and restore mental and, accordingly, physical health of the Ukrainians and bring victory closer. The paper aims to explore the relationship between mental health and philosophy in the context of war-related traumatic events.