In July and August, more than 250 specialists from social protection and healthcare institutions in Poltava Oblast were trained under the programme ‘Professional Competencies of Social and Medical Workers in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support’.
The trainings were held as part of the project ‘Humanitarian Solidarity: Support for Vulnerable Groups in the Context of Armed Conflict’, implemented by the Light of Hope charity with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation and in cooperation with Poltava State Medical University.
Participants deepened their knowledge of mental health and the specifics of providing assistance to people with mental disorders, and acquired skills in basic mental health assessment. They also learnt about methods of preventing mental illness, preventing stigma and discrimination, basic self-help skills and tools for building resilience. They also discussed the issue of interdisciplinary cooperation and the algorithm of referrals between medical and social services, which is important on the way to creating an inclusive and supportive environment.
‘For many years, our organisation has been helping people in difficult life circumstances,’ said Maria Bondarenko, Executive Director of the Light of Hope, ’And today, the challenges that have arisen as a result of the humanitarian crisis against the backdrop of a full-scale war in Ukraine are a priority for us. Taking care of people’s mental health is a prerequisite for building a healthy and happy society and, at the same time, a shared responsibility. This project is one of a number of our initiatives in the field of mental health and psychosocial support, and we continue to work actively to ensure that quality psychosocial services are available to all those in need. At the same time, we understand how important it is today to support our service providers, create opportunities for them to grow professionally and preserve their personal resources, and prevent professional burnout.’
Yulia Yushchenko, Regional Coordinator of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme, spoke about the development of the psychosocial support system in the region.
‘We strive to create a modern system of psychosocial support that meets the highest standards and is able to meet the needs and demands of society,’ said Yulia Yushchenko, ’Working on the development and improvement of accessible, comprehensive and flexible MHPSS services in Poltava Oblast, we see how important the human resource, its potential, level of professional knowledge and competencies, and motivation are. Medical and social workers today play a key role in the provision of mental health and psychosocial support services. By combining their efforts, we are creating a powerful support network that is able to respond to any challenge. Such trainings are not only an opportunity to gain new knowledge, but also to share experiences and best practices, establish professional communication and cross-sectoral cooperation.’
