World Bank and Ukraine’s Health Ministry Establish 60 Mental Health Support Spaces in Primary Care Centers

Creating Safe Spaces for Psychological Relief

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: As part of a collaborative effort between Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and the World Bank under the HEAL Ukraine initiative, 60 psychological relief areas have been introduced across primary healthcare centers nationwide. These dedicated spaces offer vital mental health support to communities facing ongoing challenges. The project was funded through donor contributions from the Ukraine Recovery, Reconstruction, and Reform Support Fund (URTF), with implementation managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

Among the newly established spaces, five are located in primary care centers in Poltava region. Four centers each received new rooms in Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Cherkasy regions. Three new support rooms were set up in Vinnytsia, Zakarpattia, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions. Two spaces were created in Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Rivne, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, and Chernivtsi regions, with one additional room opened in Kirovohrad region.

These areas are staffed by healthcare professionals trained under the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), ensuring that individuals receive high-quality psychological care within their own communities.

Victor Liashko, Ukraine’s Minister of Health, emphasized: 'Our goal is to make mental health support as accessible as possible by providing it close to where people live-right within their local communities. Establishing psychological relief spaces in primary healthcare centers strengthens frontline services and broadens access to mental health care.'

Extending the Reach of Resilience Centers

The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has approved a resolution to continue the operation of Resilience Centers in territorial communities through November 2027. These specialized facilities offer psychological support and expert consultations. Plans are underway to launch a pilot program providing supervision sessions for primary health care workers in partnership with WHO. These efforts aim to enhance both the availability and quality of mental health services throughout Ukraine.

This initiative marks a significant advancement in Ukraine’s mental health care system, particularly amid widespread stressors affecting the population. By expanding spaces for psychological relief, the project strengthens support for those in need and ensures access to qualified medical assistance. Growing this network of support centers is expected to play a crucial role in improving overall mental well-being and mitigating the impact of psycho-emotional disorders nationwide.

In addition to these newly established mental health support spaces, innovative initiatives like mobile support centers are emerging across Ukraine. These centers aim to reach vulnerable populations, including the homeless, ensuring that psychological assistance is accessible to those who need it most. Such efforts complement the ongoing work of the Ministry of Health and the World Bank, showcasing a comprehensive approach to mental health care in the region.