Living through a humanitarian crisis more than doubles your risk of experiencing a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression. In Ukraine, where the war is in its third year, an estimated 9.6 million Ukrainians—one-quarter of the population—are currently at risk of or already living with a mental health condition.
For the country’s doctors, teachers and social workers, the challenges have never been greater. As they shoulder the responsibility of caring for their communities during the conflict, many are also dealing with their own mental health troubles.
International Medical Corps recognizes the importance of incorporating mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programming into our responses to crises worldwide. Here are some of the ways we’re supporting the mental health of the brave Ukrainians who have dedicated their lives to helping others.
Psychosocial Support for Pervomaisk Health Workers
The health workers of the Korotchenko outpatient clinic in Pervomaisk, in Mykolaivska oblast, have dealt with intense stress since the Russian invasion. Their city is located close to the fighting in southern Ukraine and is under constant threat of attack. Moreover, all the clinic’s staff have friends or family in the military, whose safety is a constant source of anxiety.
Although the team has continued to work hard to care for their patients, the sustained stress and worry have affected their own health. Most of the staff at the clinic have complained of a range of psychological and physiological symptoms, including problems sleeping, difficulty concentrating at work, bad moods and irritability.
Noticing that the health workers were struggling, International Medical Corps’ MHPSS team stepped in. We started by running a Self-Help Plus (SH+) course, which teaches stress management techniques and has been shown to reduce psychological distress and the risk of mental health conditions.
The course helped the health workers better manage the stress of their challenging work environment. They appreciated the training so much that some staff members at the clinic asked for more sessions. The MHPSS team tried a new approach: over the following months, they ran art-based psychosocial activities involving drawing and making plasticine sculptures.
The sessions were a success. They gave the healthcare professionals an opportunity to relax, socialize and rediscover the creativity for which they had previously had no time. The healthcare professionals enjoyed sharing their creations with one another, and returned to work feeling rejuvenated.
“Probably the last time I used plasticine was in kindergarten,” says Olga, one of the healthcare providers at the clinic. “I never thought that such simple things could be so uplifting—it’s good to feel my inner child again.”
Self-Care Sessions for Child Protection Workers in Mykolaiv
In times of conflict and mass displacement, children are especially vulnerable. That’s why the staff of the Mykolaiv City Service for Children has been working tirelessly to protect children affected by neglect, exploitation, abuse and other challenges.
However, after more than two years of full-scale war, the social workers felt overwhelmed. Many of them showed signs of burnout, including stress, poor sleep and fatigue. Although most of the employees have worked in child protection for more than a decade, and all love their work, the challenges of working through a war had taken a toll on their mental and physical health.
To help the social workers cope with the demands of their jobs, International Medical Corps’ MHPSS team in Mykolaiv ran a series of psychosocial support sessions. The team taught them self-care exercises and techniques that they could use in their daily lives.
By the end of the sessions, the staff had realized that it wasn’t enough to take care of the children—they had to take care of themselves, too. They committed to rekindling their social networks, revisiting favorite hobbies and remembering to prioritize spending time with loved ones in order to protect themselves from stress and burnout.
Stress Management Training for Teachers in Kramatorsk
Life is tough in Kramatorsk, which is just 20 kilometers from the front line in eastern Ukraine. The city’s residents have lived through conflict since early 2014—but in the last few years, major missile strikes have killed and injured many civilians. Though some people have fled their homes, others have stayed and continue to live their lives under the constant threat of Russian attacks.
Throughout the conflict, Kramatosrk’s teachers have suffered from ever-rising stress levels. They are forced to repress their own fears and worries throughout the school day, due to the immense pressure to make their remaining students feel safe and comfortable.
To help the city’s teachers cope with their stress, International Medical Corps ran a SH+ course tailored specifically for their role. The MHPSS trainers taught the teachers how to identify and manage their stress through various techniques—for example, they encouraged the teachers to practice slow breathing exercises in the evenings after a hard day’s work to help them relax and fall asleep peacefully.
The teachers found the training useful and motivating. One teacher used the metaphor of a tree to describe how the training affected him. Like the deep roots of a tree that enable it to withstand terrible storms, he explained, the training session gave him the hope and strength to weather life’s challenges while living through the conflict.
Help Us Care for Ukraine’s Frontline Workers
In the first two years of the war alone, International Medical Corps reached more than 73,000 Ukrainians with mental health and psychosocial support services. We also trained 5,614 health and frontline workers in mental health topics, to help them support themselves and others.
As the war continues, we’re continuing to offer MHPSS services around the country. But we can’t do it without your help. Donate to International Medical Corps today to help us support Ukrainians and other crisis-affected people around the world.