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Therapy space shortage: 443 torture victims are waiting for urgently needed help!
The Hemayat association in Vienna reported on July 16, 2025: Therapy places for torture and war survivors are still inadequate.
Therapy space shortage: 443 torture victims are waiting for urgently needed help!
In Vienna there is a great need for action to support survivors of war and torture. The Hemayat care center is currently taking stock and showing that the number of therapy places has increased, but is not enough to cover the increasing demand. In June 2025, Hemayat moved to Columbusgasse 28 in Favoriten to create more space for those affected. The association has been offering therapeutic support for survivors for over 30 years and recorded an 11.5 percent increase in therapy hours in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year. For children and young people the increase was almost 20 percent. The number of children looked after rose from 177 to 210.
The clients currently come from 59 different countries. But the picture becomes cloudy when you look at the 443 people who are waiting for help, sometimes for up to a year for an interpreter-supported individual therapy place. Nora Ramirez Castillo, deputy executive director of Hemayat, makes it clear: “The need exceeds the possibilities.” Additional financial resources are urgently needed to bring more people affected into therapy. In 2024, a total of 1,801 survivors, including 276 minors, were supported at Hemayat.
Psychosocial support for refugees
The need for psychosocial support has increased, not least due to the extremely stressful situations during the flight. It is estimated that 87 percent of refugees have experienced traumatizing events such as war, persecution or forced recruitment. Separation from family members and uncertainties about their own safety increase stress. After their arrival, many are confronted with additional challenges, such as mass accommodation, the risk of violence and an unclear prospect of residency. Often these circumstances lead to higher rates of mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders and depression compared to the general population.
In order to meet these challenges, psychosocial centers, supported by the Joint Association, offer important therapeutic offers. These include psychotherapeutic sessions, social-educational support and clearing discussions to clarify individual needs. A multidisciplinary team of specialists ensures that refugees also receive linguistic support and are looked after from their arrival until they overcome their trauma.
Secure framework conditions are essential to ensure successful therapy. Networking and training opportunities are also important in order to promote adequate care for refugees. As the experiences at the Hemayat Center show, “a good hand” in therapy makes the difference for many of those affected. Their stories and the support they receive are a strong sign that much more can and must be done in Vienna to address the gaps in mental health care. For more information on this topic and about Hemayat's work, visit MeinBezirk, ORF Wien and the Paritätisches Overall association.