UKRAINE: Kyiv's Growing Focus on Mental Health Amidst Crisis

UKRAINE: Kyiv‘s Growing Focus on Mental Health Amidst Crisis

How the Kyiv Mental Resilience Forum is Addressing the Escalating Mental Health Concerns of Its Citizens

Iryna Kopanytsia

In a remarkable display of communal concern, nearly 82,000 residents of Kyiv participated in the latest mental health survey conducted through the Kyiv Digital application.

This figure marks a significant increase from the 6,000 participants in the initial survey, underscoring a rapidly growing interest in mental health issues among the population.

The Kyiv Mental Resilience Forum, organized in response to this surging interest, has become a focal point for discussing and developing strategies to enhance the psychological well-being of the community, especially during ongoing stressors.

The third iteration of this critical research reveals significant shifts in the attitudes and mental states of the participants. Notably, only 9% of respondents now describe their psycho-emotional condition as “pretty good, given the situation,” a decline from previous years. There is a concerning rise in feelings of anxiety, apathy, and depression, which have increased by 3% across the surveyed group.

UKRAINE: Kyiv's Growing Focus on Mental Health Amidst Crisis

Physical activity, once a popular method for managing stress, has seen a 4% decrease in adherence. Conversely, engagement with cultural activities such as movies, books, and theater has notably doubled from 9% in previous years to 19%, highlighting a shift in coping mechanisms among the populace. Additionally, the reliance on sedatives and online psychological advice has slightly declined by 2%.

The survey also revealed a significant drop, nearly one-third, in the number of individuals seeking support from friends and relatives during challenging times. While the preference for consulting psychologists decreased by 3%, there was a small increase, about 2%, in those turning to family doctors for mental health issues. These shifts suggest a transformation in how residents are approaching mental health management, indicating that traditional methods may no be longer as effective in the current climate.

The Kyiv Mental Resilience Forum plays a crucial role in addressing these evolving needs. It brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, including experts from various municipal departments, communal enterprises, district state administrations, and representatives from both international and national public organizations, alongside psychologists and scholars. This collective effort aims to forge new pathways for improving mental health support and services.

The forum has been instrumental in fostering a dialogue on the necessity of prioritizing mental health, particularly in times of conflict or widespread stress. The collaborative environment of the forum allows for an integrated approach, crucial for developing effective intersectoral strategies that can address the complex needs of the community.

As the city of Kyib continues to navigate through these turbulent times, the insights gained from the mental health survey and the subsequent discussions at the Kyiv Mental Resilience Forum are invaluable. They not only reflect the changing dynamics of the community’s mental health but also help in shaping policies and practices that aim to support and improve the psychological resilience of its citizens.

This proactive approach by the city’s administration to continually assess and respond to the mental health needs of its population sets a precedent for other cities globally. It highlights the importance of community engagement and the impact of collective efforts in addressing mental health challenges, particularly in scenarios compounded by external stress factors such as political or social unrest.

The increased participation in the mental health survey and the proactive initiatives like the Kyiv Mental Resilience Forum showcase a community that is becoming increasingly aware of and responsive to the mental health needs of its citizens.

Moving forward, the insights gathered from these forums will be crucial in crafting strategies that not only address current mental health issues but also preemptively manage potential future crises. This ongoing commitment to mental health is a beacon of hope and a model of resilience for communities worldwide.

Acknowledgement:

Department of Social and Veterans Policy of the KSDA
Stress Resistance Center of Kyiv

Information and updates from Marina Honda

Deputy head of the KMDA for the exercise of self-governing powers, who Directs, coordinates and controls in Kyiv city administration the activities of:

Department of Public Communications
Department of Social and Veteran Policy
Service for children and families
Department of Tourism and Promotions

Iryna Kopanytsia is the Correspondent of Mahabahu, Ukraine

31-05-2024

Images from different sources

Mahabahu.com is an Online Magazine with collection of premium Assamese and English articles and posts with cultural base and modern thinking. You can send your articles to editor@mahabahu.com / editor@mahabahoo.com (For Assamese article, Unicode font is necessary)