'Stuck in war zone': For Indian students from Ukraine, no end to the nightmares

Mohammad Faisal (centre) returned to his hometown in Bihar on March 12

Last night, I woke up shaking from a nightmare. I dreamt that my hands had been chopped off," said Mohammad Faisal, who is among the students evacuated from Sumy city of war-hit Ukraine. Many who returned recently are having psychological breakdowns. Experts said the youngsters witnessed war for the first time in their life, which, accompanied by the fear of an uncertain future, is causing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Upon returning to their homes, most medical students have begun counselling. mid-day spoke to many students who are struggling to cope with the trauma caused by the war they just witnessed. Many of them are having nightmares that keep them awake at night. "The effect of the war on our mental health is detrimental, and I can feel that. I wake from nightmares and my family says my eyes stay wide open for a few minutes. I still feel I am stuck in the war zone," said Faisal, who was stuck with hundreds of medical students in the hostel in Sumy.

Mohammad Mehtab Raza with his uncle and a cousin

Faisal arrived at Patna airport, Bihar, on March 12 and a vehicle arranged by the government took him to his village in Motihari district. "I had gone to Ukraine to study, but experienced a war first hand. Every second in the hostel, I felt that I was dead. I had not slept for weeks. I am planning to see a psychiatrist, but I guess the psychological wounds from the war will remain with me forever," Faisal added. Mohammad Mehtab Raza, who returned with Faisal and others, said he wants to sleep as much as he can, as the constant bombing and shelling in Sumy had kept him awake for days. "We all had not slept for nearly two weeks. So I need to sleep now," he added.

However, the nightmares are keeping him up most of the nights, said Raza, a native of East Champaran district of Bihar. He added, "I dreamt that I am still stuck in the hostel with no drinking water, food and medicines. It was a horrible experience." He said he will consult a psychiatrist, or else "I won't be able to concentrate on my study." Dr Harish Shetty, psychiatrist at Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital, said, "The students who returned from Ukraine witnessed war for the first time in their life, and that had a dangerous effect on them. Most of them have been experiencing nightmares." He added that it would take a lot of time for the students to recover from the trauma of hearing bombs explode all the time.

Dr Harish Shetty, psychiatrist

The other important factor keeping them under duress is their future, as the war has disrupted their education abruptly and they do not know if they will go back to resume their studies anytime soon. "The parents play a key role at this stage, and they should ensure their child is not alone. They should let their children know that they are always present for them. More importantly, students should seek counselling. It's important to start treatment at an early stage," said Shetty. "The government should also assure these students of admission to medical colleges in India to complete their education."

Dr Varkha Chulani, clinical psychologist and psychotherpaist, Lilavati Hospital, said, "Both the students and their parents must be going through different emotional distress. While the students have their dreams shattered, parents, who spent a hefty amount on their children's education, are stunned by the turn of events." While many students are dealing with PTSD, parents could be struggling with anxiety and depression.

"The idea of war, even if one wasn't directly in the line of fire, can be very traumatic. The images of buildings being bombed, military cars rolling down the streets, fires in civilian homes, etc., cause trauma," she said. "For parents, it is the loss of their life's earnings invested in the future of their children. Some had taken loans and borrowed from moneylenders, paying huge interest rates."

"Students can cope with the trauma by accepting this unfortunate reality. Acceptance is the first step towards solving a problem. They should make peace with the loss of one or two academic years and plan their next move. They can apply to a local college for a paramedical course, instead of being rigid about only studying medicine. Parents have to also accept and tell their children that these events were beyond their control and that they need to forge ahead," said Dr Chulani.