CHICAGO – The Center for Psychological Assistance was established in Sloviansk on September 1 at the initiative of National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, with the participation of the Malta International Organization for Assistance and the German Humanitarian Aid organization.
The center provides help to victims suffering from the trauma of the armed conflict taking place in the area, residents from towns in the vicinity, and internally displaced persons who gather in the area for safety.
Sergiy Bogdanov, deputy head of the Center for Conflict Studies and lecturer in the Department of Psychoanalysis and Psychology at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, announced the opening of the center in Sloviansk on August 29, during a guidance session for children and adults titled “Building the City of Happiness.”
The Center for Psychological Assistance will provide free professional counseling and guidance by psychologists to both children and adults suffering traumas after experiencing violence and war in order to help them adapt to a new environment.
On July 3, Ukraine’s Minister of Education and Science Serhiy Kvit had reported that psychologists are working with children of school and preschool age at schools in the eastern and central regions of Ukraine, and that special rehabilitation programs have been established for the adaptation and reintegration of children into social life.
The National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy has established special courses in the Department of Psychology with an emphasis on the emotional issues faced by large numbers of the population in Ukraine due to the violence and war.
“First of all, we plan to establish a basic course to prepare professionals who immediately after their training will be able to work with the affected families,” stated Dr. Andriy Meleshevych, president of the university. In the future, experts plan to create an additional program for the rehabilitation of members of the military.
“Unfortunately, local psychologists have no experience with the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suffered by military personnel. That is why we are now intensively preparing professionals to help the Ukrainian military quickly and efficiently,” said Dr. Meleshevych at the announcement of the program.
Marta Farion is president of the Chicago-based Kyiv Mohyla Foundation of America.