Themes by tag: psychological support
The NGO Care Academy (Akademiia Turboty) is presenting its social and educational initiative “Different Together” and its main character, Pascal the Cat, who has a bionic ear and paw.
The initiative aims to foster a culture of accepting differences and respecting others among primary school children.
Visitors can meet Pascal and learn more about the initiative at the Book Country festival in Kyiv.
Schedule:
- April 23–24 (Thursday–Friday): 12:00–18:00
- April 25–26 (Saturday–Sunday): 10:00–18:00
The Care Academy’s mental health space is an interactive zone at the festival, where children and adults can meet Pascal and discuss care, support, respect, and acceptance of differences. The programme features creative, physical, and educational activities led by ambassadors, influencers, bloggers, authors, and public figures.
Highlights include a fitness session with veteran, psychologist and athlete Oleksandr Chumak, who was part of the Ukrainian team that won a regatta at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf; a workshop titled “Metal Paw: How Bionic Prosthetics Are Made”; “Talisman of Faith,” a pottery session with veteran and ceramic artist Volodymyr Dovhan (DOVGAN-ART); and a masterclass “Friendship Bracelets” by Oleksandra Paskal.
The full programme is available online.
Background: Pascal the Cat is the central figure of the initiative. The character was created by Care Academy in cooperation with Daria Herasymchuk and named after Ukrainian gymnast Oleksandra Paskal, who, after sustaining a severe injury and losing a leg in a missile strike, continued training and inspiring others.
Care Academy is Ukraine’s first online child development platform focused on mental well-being, operating on its own methodology.
Media representatives are invited on April 6 to attend the official presentation of the national program “Journey to Yourself. Paths to Recovery,” implemented by the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine with the support of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine in cooperation with Brand Ukraine.
The program is aimed at supporting the emotional and psycho-physical recovery of Ukrainians through travel across the country, engagement with natural and cultural practices, and exploration of personal roots and heritage.
“Journey to Yourself. Paths to Recovery” includes the development of a digital tourism platform featuring a map of “places of power,” a national information campaign, training programs for tourism sector stakeholders, and the attraction of international technical assistance to support local businesses and communities.
The presentation will take place on the historic hills of Vytachiv, a site associated with the origins of the Trypillian culture.
Speakers:
- Alona Shkrum, First Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine
- Nataliia Tabaka, Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development
- Mariia Lypiatska, Head of Brand Ukraine
- Oleksandr Sobko, owner of the “Vytach” bakery
Journalists can review the full program in advance. Accreditation is required. Transportation from Kyiv will be provided.
Journalists are invited to attend a Mental Health Evening for Media — a supportive and informal gathering focused on mental well-being.
Participants will:
- learn why the “inner critic” can undermine professional performance;
- explore practices of mindful self-compassion;
- reflect in a safe and familiar circle to reconnect with their inner motivation and resilience.
The event will take place on April 3 in Kyiv. It will be led by Yuliia Tkachenko and Olha Koba, psychologists and cognitive behavioral therapists.
Participation is free, but the number of places is limited.
Journalists are required to complete a registration form in advance.
Background: Mental Health Evenings are part of the Mental Support for Media program, implemented by the Suspilnist Foundation in partnership with the BrainCult Center for Development and Psychotherapy, with support from IMS (International Media Support).
The Academy of Care, together with NPC “Ukrenergo,” has launched a special initiative for Children’s Mental Health Week 2026 (World Children’s Mental Health Week 2026).
When it is dark and cold outside and power outage schedules become part of everyday life, it is especially important for children to feel that their “place” within the family remains a territory of warmth and safety. The goal of this year’s initiative is to provide families with a unique set of practical tools for “generating” warmth at home — tools that help preserve inner energy and emotional connection even during blackouts.
Format: a three-way meeting (child – adult – psychologist) via the MaPanda app. In real time, the psychologist operates the animated character Cat Pascal, creating the magic of live interaction. As a character with his own story of overcoming challenges, Cat Pascal becomes a “safe Other” for the child. Through this playful bridge, young psychologists help families tune their “mental tuning fork” of trust and safety. This is not just a session — it is the shared creation of a family story about how, even in a changing world, there is a place that truly belongs to them, where safety remains a constant.
The project will reach 700 families with children aged 6 to 9. Each family will receive a unique set of tools for “generating” warmth at home.
By prior arrangement, journalists may speak with the psychologist and founder of the “Academy of Care,” Anastasiia Svoboda, as well as, if possible, with participating families (parents and children) who have joined the initiative.
For reference: The initiative is implemented by the NGO “Opportunities. Motivation. Media.” (Academy of Care) in cooperation with MaPanda and in partnership with the Advisor–Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Child Rehabilitation, Daria Herasymchuk, within the project “Gender-sensitive approaches to mental health and psychosocial support in Ukraine,” implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with funding from the Government of Germany.
For the past three years, the InNikos canine therapy center in Kyiv has provided a unique form of support, bringing together therapy dogs, professional dog trainers, psychologists, and rehabilitation specialists to aid in the mental and physical recovery of those impacted by Russia’s war.
The center serves a wide range of clients, including active-duty military personnel, families of service members, internally displaced persons, children who endured occupation, and others affected by the conflict. All sessions are offered free of charge, available either in group settings or one-on-one.
Six therapy dogs currently work at the facility. The most experienced are Chelsea, a mixed breed, and Freya, a miniature schnauzer, both 11 years old. The youngest is Sunny, a two-year-old Australian shepherd. Two Belgian shepherds, set to turn one in February, are now in training and preparing for certification.
Similar canine therapy programs are also up and running in Rivne, Chernivtsi, and Myrhorod.
Journalists interested in covering the center’s work in the capital are welcome by prior arrangement.
The InNikos center operates with support from the Royal Canin Foundation.
Media are invited to attend the presentation of the National Psychological Association’s Helpline activity results on December 11. The helpline has been operating for three and a half years and has become one of the key crisis support services during the full-scale war. The event will take place in Kyiv.
During the event, the NPA will present:
- Statistical data on the total number of inquiries over 3.5 years;
- Information on the types of inquiries and the most common issues raised by callers;
- Analysis of changes in demand during different periods of the war;
- The role of the helpline in supporting vulnerable population groups.
Participants:
- Valeriia Palii, Co-founder of the NPA Helpline, Vice President of the NPA, Academic Director of the Psychology program at KSE, practicing psychologist;
- Diana Shkarpitko, psychologist and trauma therapist at the NPA Helpline, facilitator of support groups for military families and training sessions for specialists;
- Svitlana Iliashenko, psychiatrist at the NPA Helpline with over 20 years of experience, child psychiatrist, member of the Ukrainian Psychiatric Association and the International Association of Psychologists.
Journalists must register for the event.
The project is aimed at military personnel in Kyiv for rotation or recovering from injuries. The project’s goal is to help servicemembers who have just returned from the front line recover psychologically and physically, relieve stress, improve their mood, and boost morale.
The methodology, developed by Hanna Buraho, a Gestalt therapist and the founder of the Spirit Rehabilitation Center, is based on interacting with animals (horses, dogs, and cats).
Group sessions in hippotherapy, canine therapy, and psychotherapy are conducted with groups of 12 military personnel. The sessions consist of several stages. First, participants gather in a circle and work with a psychotherapist. Then, they move to the stable where they get acquainted with the horses, groom them, and treat them with snacks under the supervision of a hippotherapist. Finally, they ride the horses and perform exercises with them.
Since its inception in the summer of 2022, the project has attracted approximately 5,000 participants.
Journalists may cover the Spirit Warrior project by prior arrangement.
Before russia’s full-scale invasion, Maryna Sadykova worked in event management. But after February 24, 2022, her focus shifted entirely — she and her team began volunteering to support Ukrainian troops. The intense pace of that work soon took a toll. Struggling with burnout and anxiety, Sadykova sought peace in the Carpathian Mountains. That personal recovery experience inspired her to launch a mental health initiative for others facing the same strain.
Her organization, the Repower Charity Fund, now runs a psychological support program specifically for military medics and doctors who serve on the front lines. Based in Kyiv, the program offers a 10-day retreat in Sweden designed to help participants restore their emotional resilience and mental well-being.
Since 2022, Repower has organized 17 recovery programs, 16 abroad and one pilot retreat in Ukraine, reaching 1,244 combat medics who have since returned to duty. The foundation continues to expand its retreats and provide ongoing support for those who save lives under fire.
Media representatives and visitors can arrange to meet with Maryna Sadykova, her team, and program participants both online and in person in Kyiv by appointment.
A press conference titled “A Dream That Unites” is going to be held by the Voices of Children Charitable Foundation in Kyiv on October 28. The event will highlight the unique initiative of 16-year-old Sofiia, a Ukrainian girl who built a model of the legendary An-225 Mriya aircraft and launched a charity fundraiser to provide psychological support to children affected by the war.
Three years ago, Sofiia was forced to leave Ukraine because of the war and moved to Switzerland. She faced many challenges, including adapting to a new environment, feeling lonely, and being bullied. However, with the help of psychologists from the Voices of Children Foundation, Sofiia was able to overcome these difficulties and integrate into her new environment. Inspired by her experience, she decided to help other children.
Sofiia meticulously built a detailed model of the An-225 Mriya aircraft. During a school presentation in Switzerland, she shared stories about Ukrainian children who have lost their homes and parents or who live in constant danger. She decided to raffle off the model in a charity lottery, directing the proceeds to the foundation’s psychologists, who provide critical support to children affected by war.
Representatives from SkyUp Airlines and the jewelry brand Kochut were inspired by Sofiia’s story and joined the initiative by adding valuable branded gifts to the charity raffle. The project also received support from the State Enterprise “Antonov” and Dmytro Antonov, the legendary pilot of the An-225 Mriya. Sofiia’s model was transported from Switzerland to Ukraine, where it will be exhibited for a month at the State Aviation Museum in Kyiv.
Participants:
- Sofiia, creator of the Mriya model (online);
- Olena Rozvadovska and Azad Safarov, co-founders of the Voices of Children Charity Foundation;
- Dmytro Antonov, pilot of the An-225 Mriya aircraft.
Media representatives and all interested parties are invited to attend the event.
Key topics:
– Self-help groups as a tool for rehabilitation and integration;
– The history of creating a self-help group based on the experience of the Public organization “Psychability”;
– Personal stories from group members. The experience of running a self-help group with the support of the Public organization “Psychability”;
– What prospects does the “Assistant for a Person with Mental Disorder” service offer for the creation and effective long-term functioning of self-help groups?
Participants:
– Lidia Martynova, Founder and Chair of the Board of the Public Organization “Psychability”;
– Kostiantyn Zelenov, Psychiatrist of the Highest Qualification at the Center for Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine in Kyiv, Member of the Board of the Public Organization “Psychability”;
– Iryna Zhuk, Leader of the Self-Help Group at the Public Organization “Psyhabiliti”;
– Andrii Kovalov, Head of the “Reform of Social Services in Ukraine” Project, Expert Partner at Civitta Ukraine on Healthcare and Social Policy.
Background: The public organization “Psychability” is dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with mental health conditions and their families. Many countries have found that self-help groups are an effective method of rehabilitation and social integration. However, these groups need comprehensive state-level programs to support people with mental disorders to work long-term and effectively.
