Mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual can realize their own potential, cope with the stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and contribute to their community.
Psychosocial support is a key focus of Caritas Ukraine aimed at safeguarding and promoting the psychosocial well-being of our beneficiaries.
Relevance of the Need
The war in Ukraine has created a significant demand for comprehensive mental health support for those affected, including the need for psychological counseling. According to the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan, 11.5 million people in Ukraine require protection services. Data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicates that 14% to 26% of Ukraine’s population in certain regions needs psychological counseling. UNICEF’s February 2024 Ukraine Humanitarian Situation Report highlights that 50% of adolescents aged 13-15 in Ukraine experience sleep problems, and 1 in 5 suffers from intrusive thoughts and memories. Additionally, three-quarters of respondents aged 14-34 expressed a need for emotional or psychological support.
Caritas’ Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program has been active since 2014 and aims to enhance the well-being of our beneficiaries. The program offers free psychosocial support through crisis intervention, psychological assistance, stabilization techniques, and fostering resilience and social cohesion. Caritas provides individual and group counseling and refers individuals to specialized services when necessary.
Mission, Goals, and Principles
Goal: Improve the mental health and psychosocial well-being of Ukraine’s war-affected population.
Mission: Strengthen the resilience of individuals and groups by offering psychosocial support during crises, stabilization, and adaptation processes.
Core principles of MHPSS services at Caritas Ukraine include:
- Safety
- Confidentiality
- Respect for beneficiaries’ rights and dignity
- Non-discrimination
- Inclusivity
- Adherence to human rights
- Fairness
- Beneficiary participation
- The “do no harm” principle
- Utilizing local resources
- Integration with other programs and partners
Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries include individuals affected by war who experience stress and traumatic events, such as local residents, internally displaced persons (IDPs), those on the move or returning home, and veterans and their families.
Vulnerable groups include single mothers or fathers, guardians of underage children, pregnant women and mothers with children under three, people with severe illnesses and disabilities, elderly individuals without support, large families, people without stable income, survivors of violence or those who lost their homes due to military actions, homeless individuals, orphans and children deprived of parental care, families traumatized by war, families of military personnel and veterans (including missing or deceased members), and people needing social services who cannot access them due to specific circumstances.
Key Areas of Focus
Beneficiaries in challenging situations can access individual counseling to reduce stress symptoms and promote recovery from difficult experiences. In some locations, psychologists offer on-site consultations through mobile brigades.
Initial engagement with psychosocial services often involves open program events such as training sessions, seminars, cultural and recreational activities, nature outings with art therapy elements, and integrative events. These activities also include stabilization techniques, art therapy, and topics like burnout prevention, social cohesion, conflict resolution, effective communication, flexible thinking, resilience, parent-child relationships, and crisis interventions.
Psychosocial community-level events (including recreational, artistic, and sports activities) are conducted by mobile teams with the support of community members and volunteers. Group sessions are also held at Caritas hubs in suitable locations both offline and online.
Information campaigns (including media outreach) inform potential beneficiaries about available psychosocial support services. Organized by psychologists, communication managers, project coordinators, case managers, and other staff, these campaigns highlight opportunities for individual and group counseling, training, seminars, and thematic meetings. Such efforts encourage individuals to seek support, activate group and individual psychological work, and help overcome the social stigma associated with mental health issues.
Referrals may be internal or external, ensuring beneficiaries are connected with appropriate mental health and other services.
External referrals:
These include connections to medical specialists (family doctors, psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, or neurologists) or non-medical professionals (clinical psychologists, method-specific psychotherapists, employment service psychologists, etc.). External referrals may also involve other services, NGOs, specialized psychiatric and medical services, the State Domestic Violence Hotline, or La Strada’s hotline.
Internal referrals:
These involve transferring cases from psychologists to other Caritas services, such as case managers, administrative staff, project personnel, or other humanitarian and protection services, depending on individual needs and organizational capabilities.
Stories of Assistance
From Loader to Manager: The Story of Viktoria
Viktoria, a displaced person from Donetsk region, had a home and a job as a loader at a local mine before the war forced her to flee, losing all her possessions and barely saving her life. Seeking safety, she moved to Zhovti Vody with her sons and settled in a local dormitory for displaced persons. There, she actively took part in greening the area and arranging communal spaces, which caught attention. Upon moving to a new shelter, Viktoria was offered the role of shelter manager.
Her responsibilities came with challenges, requiring not only managing daily life for residents but also involvement in renovation work. The stress soon took its toll. “Each resident had their needs, pain, and experiences. Some used the shelter as a transit point, while others have been living here for years. Tension kept rising, and eventually, I started feeling burnt out,” Viktoria shares.
Caritas psychologists provided timely support, helping her regain balance and find harmony between family and work. “I realized I was taking on more than I could handle. The psychologist helped me understand this,” Viktoria says.
Today, Viktoria is a thriving woman, a caring mother, a friendly colleague, and a compassionate leader. She recently completed qualification courses and earned a certificate in managing temporary accommodation centers. Under her guidance, positive changes have transformed the shelter. “Thanks to Caritas’ support and the people who believed in me, I was able to change my life. Although the situation in the country is difficult to change, we can change ourselves. That’s why I work every day to improve my skills and knowledge. My greatest reward is the gratitude of the shelter residents. They are just like me, and together we await our shared victory,” Viktoria concludes.
The Dream to Walk Again: The Story of Iryna
Caritas met Iryna, a 65-year-old evacuee from Bakhmut, in July 2024 at a collective center in Zhovti Vody. At the time, she used a wheelchair and seemed unlikely to walk again.
In March 2023, amid serious health issues such as obesity, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance, Iryna was forced to evacuate with her family due to the escalating conflict. The evacuation journey severely impacted her health, leading to a stroke and a fractured clavicle. “I felt like everything was out of control,” she recalls.
Iryna’s greatest wish was to regain her ability to walk. She expressed this desire during her first psychological session with Caritas. “My task was to help shelter residents accept their current reality while building plans for the future,” explained Anna Varkalis, a psychologist who worked closely with Iryna. Through trust-filled conversations and continuous psychological support, Iryna began to regain confidence and discovered new hobbies such as beading, knitting socks, weaving baskets, and preserving vegetables. Her creations brought joy not only to herself but also to her neighbors, with whom she generously shared them. “Thanks to Caritas Kamianske, I managed to change myself. With faith in the future and in memory of my hometown, I work on improving myself every day. My future is in my hands,” Iryna emphasizes.
Today, Iryna’s health has significantly improved. Her blood pressure and weight have normalized, and her insulin resistance has disappeared. Most importantly, she has transitioned from a wheelchair to walking independently, marking a significant milestone in her journey of recovery.
One Step to a Dress: The Story of Olena
Positive changes in the life of a person with a disability often inspire those around them. This was the case with Olena (name changed), who, along with her son, fled a frontline region after the full-scale invasion. Starting from scratch, they also began rehabilitation for her son with autism. The boy showed no interest in activities, and an exhausted Olena struggled to support him.
The inclusive center team patiently found ways to engage him. Using the Tippy Talk method, the psychologist worked on his vocabulary and emotions. “Here, the character is sad, and here, he’s smiling. What do we do when we’re happy?” the psychologist asked, teaching the boy to smile. Gradually, they explored other emotions—surprise, fear, and discontent. The boy grew more engaged and attentive.
Visual cards helped him better remember material, and over time, his focus improved. He began enjoying sessions with specialists and showed interest in completing tasks.
Her son’s progress brought changes to Olena’s life. She became calmer, more confident, and, for the first time in years, wore a dress to a Parent Club meeting. These positive shifts became a new source of energy for continuing her work with her son.
Program Results
In the first half of 2024, over 100 psychologists engaged in providing MHPSS services.
Consultations Conducted:
Beneficiaries Reached:
Individual counseling:
Group work:
Organizational Achievements:
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