Ukraine plans to create almost 200 mental health institutions, the Ministry of Health reported on December 3.

“We are working to create a network of mental health centers that will become a key link for people in need of highly specialized help,” the ministry said. statement said.

These centers will complement existing psychological support provided by family doctors, school psychologists, libraries and resilience centers.

So far, 23 centers have been launched in eight regions, with 119 multidisciplinary teams already established.

The new facilities will provide psychosocial care, psychiatric services and support at the community level, focusing on vulnerable groups such as children, veterans and internally displaced persons.

From January 2025, these centers will operate under the medical guarantees program to guarantee access to state-funded care.

“Mental health centers serve not only treatment, but also support, accessibility and comfort for everyone who needs help,” commented Health Minister Viktor Liachko.

The Ministry of Health estimates that 1.8 million people among Ukrainian military personnel and veterans may require psychological support.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that 22% of people who have “experienced war or other conflict will suffer from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.”

The collective impact of population displacement, chronic lack of sleep, fear of attacks and economic hardship contribute significantly to the deterioration of the mental health of Ukrainians.

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Editor’s note: This article was published in the biweekly newsletter “The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak” on October 17, 2024 and was republished by the Kyiv Independent with permission. To subscribe to La Contre-offensive, click here. Last year, Mykola Horishnyi was declared clinically dead…