Mental health
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health is a state of well-being in which everyone can realise their own potential, cope with life's stresses, work productively and effectively, and contribute to their community.
"The mental health component is an integral part of the public health system and a mandatory function of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Currently, 7 million Ukrainians are experiencing anxiety and loneliness from separation from their loved ones due to relocation to other cities, and relatives of military personnel need support. Therefore, the implementation of the CDC programmes at the district and regional levels will reduce the impact of psychological state on the development of stress-related diseases, including depression, in the short term," said Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine.
The CPCs will work in 5 areas to ensure the psychological health of the population at the regional and community levels. These include monitoring the psychological state of the population at the district and regional levels, implementing psychological support programmes in the workplace, combating stigma, communicating with local governments on a joint strategy at the regional level to increase access to psychological support services, and direct outreach to people to raise awareness.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in each region will implement short-term tasks in the field of psychological health of the population. In particular, they will conduct epidemiological surveillance and analytical support of the psychological state of people in communities at the regional level. This includes not only the consequences of the war, such as psychological trauma, but also the adaptation of internally displaced persons, professional burnout among healthcare workers, and children's problems due to a change of residence.
The CCPCs will implement mental health programmes in the workplace. The monitoring will include both interviews with employees and screening questionnaires. This will allow us to track and analyse psychological changes in both individuals and the entire team in the future.
To raise awareness of psychological problems, their manifestations and consequences, the CPC specialists will hold meetings with communities and work on targeted requests. Particular attention will be paid to working with stigma and combating stigmatising manifestations during discussions of psychological problems in a family or team.
At the national level, the implementation of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme "Are You OK?" is underway at the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska. The aim of the programme is to teach Ukrainians to take care of their mental well-being and to create an effective state system of psychosocial support and guidance for citizens in need of professional help.
The Coordination Centre for Mental Health was established under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to coordinate efforts and ensure cooperation between ministries, institutions and organisations, local governments, the non-governmental sector, international partners and donors, and the expert and scientific community in developing and implementing the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme "Are You OK?" initiated by Olena Zelenska.
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