THE URCS TOOK PART IN THE SCANDINAVIAN CONFERENCE ON MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT IN EMERGENCY AND HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS
The issue of mental health of the population of Ukraine has become extremely relevant since the beginning of the escalation of the armed conflict in the country. A large number of people have experienced crisis events for which they were not prepared.
That is why mental health and psychosocial support (PSPSP) is an integral part of the activities of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.
A two-day human right left behind: Scandinavian Conference on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (SCMPS) took place last week in Copenhagen in emergency and humanitarian conditions”, in which the head of the Department of Psychosocial Support of the National Committee of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, Anna Didenko, took part. The participants of the meeting were world-renowned experts in the field of humanitarian aid, researchers, members of civil society and the UN, sponsors and representatives of humanitarian organizations of the Scandinavian countries of Europe.
The result was a joint resolution of participants on next steps in implementing and disseminating information about the need for more mental health and psychosocial support in all emergency response programs, in the post-crisis period and in the long term.
At the conference, the Society of the Ukrainian Red Cross presented its work, namely the response and development of the PZPSP direction in the organization, as the potential of the Society in providing assistance to the PZPS for the rapid deployment of activities and support affected population after the escalation of the armed conflict in Ukraine. Key achievements, challenges and lessons learned were also presented, which colleagues from other countries should take into account when planning emergency responses.
The work of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society in the direction of PZPSP was highly appreciated by the international community, because the Society helped the affected population from the first days of the escalation of the armed conflict, providing first psychological aid to people in distress, conducting recreational classes for children who left their homes, psychoeducational sessions for adults, family activities, providing phone support and creating child-friendly spaces.
In addition, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society conducts psychological first aid training online and offline for volunteers and employees of the Society and for the public, in particular for social workers, teachers, police and representatives of organizations that work with recipients of aid. The psychosocial support team does everything possible to help children, adults, the elderly and people with disabilities and other vulnerable population groups throughout Ukraine.
The attention of the international community is increasingly focused on issues of psychosocial support and mental health, and the need for support in this direction is recognized as one of the key during the recovery of communities affected by emergency situations.
