Psychosocial support

Psychosocial support (PSS) is one of the strategic areas of activity of the Red Cross Society of Ukraine (RCSW), which has been implemented since 2014. With the beginning of the armed conflict in Ukraine, the need for psychosocial support of the population increased significantly, because people faced such crisis events for which it is impossible to be prepared.

Many people lost their relatives, their homes, were separated from their relatives or were forced to leave their homes, were under shelling or under temporary occupation. All of these have a significant impact on the people affected, causing them distress and can lead to mental or physical health problems later on.

Since February 2022, due to the escalation of the armed conflict, the number of categories of people in need of support has increased significantly. Currently, employees and volunteers of the Red Cross Society of Ukraine in various regions of Ukraine are working on providing support.

Psychological first aid training at the Red Cross Society of Ukraine started in 2019. During the 3 years of activity of the direction, more than 50 qualified instructors and trainers were trained in PPD, who conduct training in all corners of our country. Until 2020, only volunteers and employees of the TCHU could undergo training. Recently, the demand for training has increased among the population (mostly among the residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, who lived on the demarcation line at that time), trainings are held for different categories of the population. In particular, for employees of the National Police of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and local self-government bodies. The demand for PPD trainings significantly decreased with the beginning of the escalation of the armed conflict in February 2022. In 2022, more than 16,000 people were reached during webinars, online trainings and the distribution of video materials on psychological first aid.