Reflections from the Global Mental Health Action Network (GMHAN) communications working group session on communications in response to mental health needs in Ukraine.

Last week, we had the privilege of organising a webinar focused on a crucial topic, “Integrating Effective Communication in Responding to the Mental Health Needs of War-Impacted Populations in Ukraine."  This event was part of the monthly knowledge and information sharing sessions organised by the Action Network Communications working group.

The session was facilitated by Alyona Gerasimova, Pact’s Chief of Party for the Public Health System Recovery & Resilience Project and Country Director in Ukraine, and Shirley Ko, Pact’s Senior Director of Global Health. They provided an overview of the USAID-funded Public Health System Recovery & Resilience project implemented in Ukraine. 

The presentation highlighted the severe impact of the two-year war in Ukraine on its population, with statistics showing 6.3 million individuals fleeing the country, 4.9 million internally displaced, over 10,000 civilians killed, close to 20,000 wounded, and more than 26,000 individuals reported missing.  

The Public Health System Recovery & Resilience project (PHSR&R) is therefore strengthening the Government of Ukraine’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats; sustain critical public health services during a crisis; protect the health of all Ukrainians, including vulnerable and marginalised population groups; and increase access to mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for war-impacted populations.

The project supports the direct provision of in-person, online, and hybrid MHPSS services to address the immediate needs of populations, and beyond this, it works closely with the Ukrainian government, local partners, and stakeholders on longer-term MHPSS system strengthening and workforce development to ensure the sustainability of services from the beginning. At the regional and local levels, efforts to develop, test, and document community-led models for MHPSS services based on need and priorities are underway. The project also maintains flexibility to extend direct support to regions with acute vulnerabilities and needs.

The project is supporting a national communications campaign initiated by the office of the 1st Lady of Ukraine called “How are you?” to promote demand for and increase uptake of mental health care services, including destigmatizing mental health. This is done through various channels, including podcasts, short videos, digital platforms, and billboards. In addition, an MHPSS space called "Taking Care of Yourself" has been launched.  

“The project has shown great results to date, with over 3,000 providers trained and 14,500 individuals receiving MHPSS services.” Alyona Gerasimova, Chief of Party of the Public Health System Recovery & Resilience Project at Pact.

Replay the session

Key Takeaways

Some of the key takeaways from the programme shared during the session included;

• The power of community-based approaches in addressing mental health needs. Speakers discussed the significance of building trust and rapport within communities, empowering local leaders, and utilising existing social networks to facilitate access to mental health support. The approach has also been emphasised by USAID in the “Proposed Theory of Change for Global Mental Health Brief,” launched in September 2023. The brief highlights the need to work with communities to increase access to mental health services and ensure they are culturally appropriate and responsive to local needs.

• Promoting a culture of mental health requires a multi-sectoral approach where its importance is recognized and supported across sectors. This concept is also evident in USAID's "Proposed Theory of Change for Global Mental Health Brief," which emphasises that mental health outcomes are shaped by factors that extend beyond the individual. One key approach to addressing the social, economic, and environmental determinants of well-being is through collaborative efforts across sectors.     

• Investing in workforce development through capacity building programmes for nurses, social workers, psychologists, and peer and lay counsellors is essential to establishing pipelines of mental health professionals that can meet demand for MHPSS services created by communications efforts and ongoing delivery of quality mental health care.

The session also shed light on the impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine on mental health services and the need for sustainable, long-term solutions. During the feedback session, participants highlighted the importance of integrating mental health into broader humanitarian response efforts and advocating for increased funding and resources. They also expressed interest in replicating the learnings from the session in other conflict-affected settings.

Overall, the webinar was a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of solidarity and support in times of crisis. We are grateful to have collaborated with Pact and the USAID-funded Public Health System Recovery & Resilience project and their valuable contributions, and we look forward to continuing the conversation and collective efforts to address the mental health needs of war-impacted populations in Ukraine and beyond. 

Click here to access the recording of the session. The Passcode: 4*8=Vcl#. 

Also, stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to get involved in our ongoing work. Join the working group by following this link.

Faith Nassozi
Communications Advisor, United for Global Mental Health
Co-chair GMHAN Communications working group.