A delegation from Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy participated in the Third All-Ukrainian Mental Health Forum “Support Those Who Support Everyone”.

The event focused on the potential and well-being of mental health workers. It was held as part of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “How Are You?”, initiated by the First Lady of Ukraine.

The forum was organized by the Coordination Center for Mental Health under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the World Health Organization within the framework of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “How Are You?”, with the support of the Netherlands, Canada, and France.

Among the forum participants were representatives of central executive authorities, regional military administrations, communities, international and non-governmental organizations, universities, companies from the “Business Without Barriers” community, as well as experts and scientists, regional coordinators of the “How Are You?” initiative, and community consultants.

Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy was represented by Rector Oleksandr Cherevko, Vice-Rector for Educational Work and Public Activities Halyna Havryliuk, and representatives of the University’s Mental Health Research and Training Center – Yuliia Sidenko and Olha Kopchynska.

“For the first time in our country, mental health support stands alongside responses to other urgent challenges of the war. For the first time, the service is so close to everyone: in the office of a family doctor who has undergone appropriate training provided by the WHO, in hundreds of mental health centers and resilience centers, in veteran hubs, and in cultural and arts institutions. Today, we saw in numbers that there are even more of them in all regions,” said First Lady Olena Zelenska.

“Preventive initiatives are one of the most profitable investments for business. Studies show that every dollar invested in mental health returns two to five dollars in reduced sick leave, lower employee turnover, and higher productivity,” noted Oksana Zbitnieva, Head of the Coordination Center of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine / Mental Health UA, Head of the NGO “Barrier-Free”.

The forum program also included panel discussions, in particular on intersectoral cooperation within “How Are You?”. The forum also hosted a special event “The Power of Gratitude”, which brought together various service providers from both the public and private sectors in a marketplace format, along with businesses and universities.

A photo exhibition titled “Touches of Support” served as the program’s visual component. Among the photos was an image from the photo exhibition of the same name previously displayed at Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy for World Mental Health Day.

Based on the results of the work on fostering mental health, coordinated at BKNUC by the Mental Health Research and Training Center, Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy received a special distinction from the “How Are You?” program.

“This distinction is the result of the joint efforts of the Cherkasy Regional State Administration, regional program coordinator Viktoriia Shepil, our partners, and the recognition of the work carried out by BKNUC’s Mental Health Research and Training Center in nurturing the mental health of the university community and supporting the residents of Cherkasy. I sincerely thank my colleagues and partners!” stated Oleksandr Cherevko.

Background

The All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “How Are You?” is an initiative launched by First Lady Olena Zelenska, aimed at building a high-quality system of providing mental health services and fostering a culture of mental health care. The development and implementation of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program is supported by the Coordination Center for Mental Health under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with expert support from the World Health Organization.

According to the mapping conducted by the regional teams of “How Are You?”, more than 13,000 mental health and psychosocial support service providers operate across 23 regions of Ukraine in various sectors: healthcare, social protection, education, veteran policy, culture and arts, sports, and others.

A special study conducted by “How Are You?” showed that awareness of mental health services at the community level has increased 2.5 times compared to 2023. The percentage of people willing to seek support grew from 23% to 46%, and satisfaction with services rose from 61% to 74%.

A survey of over 850 employers conducted by “How Are You?” together with the State Labour Service of Ukraine revealed that for the vast majority, mental health is a priority regardless of the sector or size of the organization.

Press Office of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy