A new research foundation will bring together international experts, including UNSW academics, to improve understanding of how war affects children, and how to better support recovery.
An international team of researchers has joined forces with experts in Ukraine to investigate the long-term impacts of war on children's mental health and identify better ways to support those affected by conflict.
The Nadija Foundation , established in 2025 by five Scandinavian countries in partnership with Ukraine, aims to provide professional help as early as possible to reduce the long-term physical and mental consequences of war trauma.
As part of this, it has established the independent Nadija Research Foundation in collaboration with UNSW Sydney and the Universities of Zurich, Copenhagen, Linköping, Helsinki, Cambridge, the Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University and the Ukrainian Catholic University.
The foundation plans to operate a new research centre of excellence in Lviv, in western Ukraine, focused on advancing research on the health consequences of armed conflict and developing more effective support for affected children and families. It will be funded exclusively through donations.
"Nadia means hope in Ukrainian," said UNSW Scientia Professor and foundation researcher Richard Bryant. "We know from history that when war happens, the mental health effects and psychological trauma can last for decades, it can be intergenerational."
"Even when peace is restored, these children will be affected, which is why we need to develop evidence-based programs now that can help mitigate some of the mental health problems they may face, programs that can offer hope."
Foundation Chair Michael Schaepman, President of the University of Zurich, said the collaboration was committed to supporting the well-being of children in crisis regions and ensuring they benefit from the latest scientific knowledge.
"At the same time, we are helping Ukraine build its scientific and clinical capacities for the long term, despite shortages of specialists and damaged infrastructure," he said.
Investigating the mental health impacts of war
According to UNICEF, around 5 million children have been displaced by the war in Ukraine. Many have spent extended periods in underground shelters near the front lines, and almost half show signs of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic stress. One in three has witnessed someone in their immediate surroundings injured or killed.
Foundation board member Professor Angela Nickerson, a clinical psychologist and Director of the Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program at UNSW, said there was relatively limited research on the psychological impact of war on children and families, despite them making up a large proportion of the affected population.
"They have been living with fear, uncertainty, displacement and so on, for a very long time. That doesn't just affect a child in the moment, there's a trajectory. We can see disruptions in development, and physical and mental health impacts that can last for years," she said.
The researchers highlighted the need for a strong evidence base to inform effective policy and intervention options - not just during the crisis phase of the conflict but in the years that follow.
"It's not just about what we do now, but how do we support children and families to rebuild and thrive in the years ahead," Prof. Nickerson said.
Two research projects already underway
The foundation has already launched two projects. The first is a national longitudinal study, known as the UNITY cohort, which will follow 3000 families across Ukraine . The study will examine the families' mental health, resilience and coping strategies over time.
The second project focuses on a World Health Organization (WHO) program designed to strengthen the emotional well-being of adolescents. Known as Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE), the program will be adapted to the Ukrainian context and evaluated. As part of the project, researchers are developing a digital version that addresses current challenges such as online learning and air raid alerts.
Beyond its research activities, the Nadija Foundation also provides virtual psychological care for children and families in Ukraine through a telemedicine program.
Ensuring research and interventions are shaped by the needs and experiences of people in Ukraine is a central focus of the foundation. Prof. Bryant said the centre will work closely with Ukrainian experts and communities, drawing on local knowledge and lived experience to ensure its work reflects the realities faced by those affected by war.
While the impacts of war are profound, Prof. Nickerson noted Ukrainian communities have demonstrated enormous strength, resilience and perseverance, with research and interventions increasingly looking to draw on these strengths to support longer-term recovery.
UNSW Dean of Science Professor Sven Rogge commended the collaboration.
"The Nadija Research Foundation is a powerful example of how universities can work together across borders to address complex humanitarian challenges.
"By bringing together leading researchers from Ukraine and around the world, this collaboration will generate the evidence needed to shape more effective, research-informed support for children and families affected by war. By translating rigorous research into practice, the Foundation has the potential to strengthen mental health care, inform policy, and create lasting benefits for communities in Ukraine and beyond."
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