In Chernivtsi, the Ukrainian Red Cross Launches Psychological First Aid Training Sessions for Lawyers of the Free Legal Aid System

A series of training sessions by the Ukrainian Red Cross for representatives of Free Legal Aid is implemented with the support of the Coordination Centre for Mental Health under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine within the framework of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme “How Are You?” initiated by the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska. 

The training sessions will provide guidance to lawyers of the free legal aid system across Ukraine. 

The Free Legal Aid (FLA) system is a network of access centres across Ukraine and online channels for obtaining legal services. Services are provided in accordance with the Law of Ukraine, ″On Free Legal Aid″. Given that lawyers within this system may encounter diverse individuals and challenging situations in providing legal services, the ability to offer timely and appropriate mental health support is invaluable. 

The sessions will serve as integral components of the priority project ″Training for specialists of the free legal aid system in the field of mental health″, currently being implemented by the Ministry of Justice as part of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme ″How are you?”. 

The training participants learned what psychological first aid (PFA) is and to whom it should be provided; gained insight into the basic principles of providing PFA and methods to prevent further harm to individuals; acquired knowledge on addressing complex reactions and providing assistance in such cases; learned how to prioritise assistance when dealing with multiple individuals simultaneously and the importance of providing accurate information and facilitating access to other social services. Additionally, participants learned self-care strategies to ensure their well-being before, during, and after providing assistance.  

The Ukrainian Red Cross is conducting the training as part of the #EU4Health programme, which is being implemented with the support of the European Commission and aims to assist the population affected by the war in Ukraine. 

The development and implementation of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme ″How are you?″ receive support from the Coordination Centre for Mental Health under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, with expert partnership and assistance from the World Health Organization. The Interagency Coordination Council of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine facilitates decision-making for the programme. 

For more information about the Programme, visit the platform «Ти як?».