The Donetsk State University of Internal Affairs hosted the “FORUM OF UNDEFEATED: best practices of the Kirovohrad region in psychological support for representatives of the security and defense sector,” which brought together military personnel, psychologists, volunteers, and public figures.
The event was opened by the University vice-rector Ruslan Vradii: “Today we are here to exchange experience and best practices in supporting those on the front lines. Let this forum become not just a platform for discussions, but a real platform for actions that will help change people’s lives for the better.”
Deputy head of the Kirovohrad Regional Military Administration Kateryna Koltunova, head of the department for veterans’ affairs of the Kirovohrad Regional Military Administration Nataliia Sivova, director of the health department of the Kirovohrad Regional Military Administration Oleh Rybalchenko addressed the audience with welcoming speeches.
Nigel Osborne, a professor at the University of Edinburgh, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Beijing University, and a number of Ukrainian Universities, spoke about “Trauma-Informed Art.”
The participants discussed creating a register of specialists and services in the field of mental health and rehabilitation of soldiers and veterans of the security and defense sector; developing a referral model (based on the criterion of the area of service provision); buildout mechanisms for developing the sphere of mental health in the region (in particular, in the field of educational services) considering the country’s course towards joining the European Union.
Also, those who wished had an opportunity to take part in a psychological interactive sessions with the participation of the DonSUIA psychologists: “Clay therapy in overcoming war trauma”, “Eurythmy as a tool for psychological recovery after a loss”, “The resource of one is the resource of many”.
The “FORUM OF UNDEFEATED” is organized with the support of international partners Lesley University (USA, Cambridge, Massachusetts) and Fundacja IDYLLA (Poland, Warsaw).
