Sleepless in Ukraine: Drone strikes and the rise of antidepressant use

Night after night, the threat returns, and for millions of Ukrainians, sleep disappears

with it. Drone strikes are a near-constant part of life in cities like Kiev and Dnipro

And now, doctors say the mental toll is deepening, as a growing number of Ukrainians are turning

to medication just to cope. Nearly half of all Ukrainians are now showing signs of mental health strain

That's according to the World Health Organization. and sleep, or the lack of it, is at the center of the problem

Ukrainian officials say Russia stepped up its drone attacks, sending swarms of Shahid-type drones into civilian areas, often at night

The noise, explosions, and repeated air raid alarms are turning bedrooms into shelters and hallways into bunkers

These drones fly low and loud and often come in waves. Even when air defenses intercept them, the alerts still shatter sleep

Millions of people lie awake, waiting for the buzzing to stop. Doctors say this nightly disruption is breaking sleep cycles and weakening immune systems

They're seeing more cases of insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Children are showing signs too

Tremors, fatigue, and a kind of fear that doesn't go away. And over time researchers say the risks only grow A 2022 study published in Review Neurologic links chronic sleep deprivation to PTS cognitive dysfunction seizures and long illnesses like diabetes and heart disease

In 2024, antidepressant sales in Ukraine jumped 46%, according to one of the country's largest drug distributors

But even with that spike, usage still trails much of Europe. A 2023 study found Ukrainians were using some antidepressants up to 18 times less than people in Norway

Experts say that's due to stigma, cost, and underdiagnosis. And for many, medical care isn't the first line of defense. Adaptation is

Some families sleep in corridors or bathrooms. Others keep tourniquets and medical kits by the door

One neurologist in Kiev calls it survival when evacuation is not an option

But the fatigue is building. One Kiev resident told United24 Media she moved her bed into the hallway after a drone strike in her neighborhood killed a teenage girl

Doctors warn unless these patterns change, Ukraine could face a long wave of psychiatric and neurological illness, especially among children, veterans and refugees

The World Health Organization says addressing mental health during wartime is as urgent as physical aid

And in Ukraine, both are under strain. For more of our unbiased Straight Fact reporting, download the Straight Arrow News app today