Ukrainians have not only suffered physically since the start of the full-scale war in February 2022, but also mentally. Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes. Family members have been separated, loved ones killed or injured, jobs lost. Air-raid sirens sound day and night, schoolchildren study in bomb shelters, hospitals come under fire and power outages are common. Long-term planning is impossible. Everyone is anxious and stressed.
Thankfully, the importance of protecting people’s mental health has become increasingly recognized in a country where stigma has long been associated with seeking mental health care. International Medical Corps partners with the Ukrainian government and a range of organizations to provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services to thousands of Ukrainians. We are also committed to sustainability by providing comprehensive MHPSS training to thousands of Ukrainian healthcare workers, which enables them to extend their support and training to countless others—creating a ripple effect that strengthens the community’s mental health resources over time.
Irina Amelina, a case manager with partner organization Way Home, says the training she has received from International Medical Corps has significantly increased her ability to work effectively with people experiencing extreme stress and anxiety. “I also feel more confident with the knowledge I have gained,” she adds. “I better understand the mechanisms of how to support people in difficult life situations.”
Amelina explains that the training fosters a mindful approach to interacting with people. It includes essential elements such as active listening, relaxation techniques and stress management strategies. With these new skills and knowledge, she feels more equipped to effectively help others, enhancing her ability to make a positive impact in her community.
Amelina emphasizes that these tools not only improve her professional capabilities but also enable her to contribute to the well-being of those around her. “The MHPSS training is an important step toward increasing the overall level of psychosocial support—it helps create an environment where people can feel protected and understood, even in times of crisis,” she says. “This is an important step toward improving the level of mental health and strengthening solidarity in Ukraine.”
“The training has definitely had a positive effect on my work,” agrees Yevhen Pushko, a psychologist with Ukraine’s State Emergency Services in Poltavska oblast. Pushko said his superiors are showing interest in adopting the Integrated Model for Supervision to MHPSS, which ensures that providers are supported while helping others. “I believe the implementation of supervision to be one of the highest priorities of the public bodies that provide mental health services,” he says, “and I hope to be able to contribute to it.
Oleg Shults is a trainer with the World Health Organization (WHO), which cooperates closely with International Medical Corps in implementing its Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) in Ukraine—including by jointly hosting training of trainers (ToT) sessions. Shults says that the WHO wants to increase the number of Ukrainian workers capable of providing quality mental health services, integrating mhGAP into university curricula and implementing supervisory support.
Like Pushko, Shults believes in the Integrated Model for Supervision to MHPSS approach—and appreciates the recent training led by International Medical Corps’ Kelly McBride. “We are very grateful to Kelly and the entire International Medical Corps team for the opportunity to gain additional knowledge,” he said. “The supervision meetings of physicians and other medical workers in Ukraine is a fairly new form of support, so we hope that our next meetings will be very valuable.”
