On October 3, 2025, Poltava Polytechnic became the central venue for a nationwide discussion by hosting another meeting of the Community of Universities of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “How Are You?”. The event highlighted the strategic importance of psychological resilience in the educational environment, particularly during wartime, and continued the project launched by the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska.
The All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “How Are You?” is a large-scale social transformation project that integrates mental health into the educational norm. Initiated by Olena Zelenska in May 2022, its key goal is to foster a culture of caring for mental health and make it a daily habit for all Ukrainians. The program focuses on developing a robust system of psychosocial support services and teaching self-help skills.
Olena Zelenska has repeatedly emphasized that in the context of the full-scale war, psychological well-being is of critical importance, as mental health is a shared responsibility of multiple sectors – from healthcare and education to security and the economy. According to sociological research, more than 90% of Ukrainians experience at least one symptom of anxiety disorder, underscoring the urgent need for effective mechanisms of psychological resilience. The “How Are You?” program provides concrete tools, techniques, and practices to help people overcome stress and anxiety and regain emotional balance.
The Community of Universities “How Are You?” was established as a key mechanism for integrating the program’s principles into higher education, recognizing universities as vital social institutions. This national network of psychological resilience serves as a platform for sharing valuable experiences and scaling best practices in psychological support among students, educators, and administrative staff.
The Community currently includes 30 universities from 20 regions of Ukraine, reflecting its national scale and wide regional representation. Its members voluntarily take the lead in implementing the program, united by a common mission – to transform university environments into safe, supportive spaces where mental health is an unquestionable priority.
The decision to hold the next meeting at Poltava Polytechnic was made unanimously on June 26, 2025, during a gathering at National Technical University “Dnipro Polytechnic”, recognizing Poltava Polytechnic’s outstanding achievements in implementing the “How Are You?” program.
The meeting at Poltava Polytechnic went beyond the educational sector, fostering interagency dialogue and consolidating the efforts of national and international institutions. The event brought together representatives of the Coordination Center for Mental Health under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (the state body overseeing the “How Are You?” program), the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman’s Office in Poltava Region), the National Police of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and the WHO Country Office in Ukraine (an international partner in creating the Digest of Best Practices). Such broad representation demonstrated that effective mental health support requires coordination and cooperation across multiple sectors.
Key speakers – including Oksana Zbitnieva, Head of the Coordination Center for Mental Health under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and Volodymyr Kohut, Acting Head of Poltava Regional Military Administration – emphasized the importance of mental health as a foundation for well-being at every stage of life.
In his welcoming address, Volodymyr Onyshchenko, President of Poltava Polytechnic, noted that such meetings are not about competition, but about sharing experiences and scaling effective practices that help universities grow.
Olena Filonych, Rector of Poltava Polytechnic, expressed gratitude to the community members for their active involvement and stressed the pivotal role of education in developing psychological resilience.
The event’s program was rich with presentations outlining the current landscape and strategic challenges of the national mental health initiative. Among the highlights were an analytical overview by Oksana Zbitnieva on the updates within the university community under the “How Are You?” program, a presentation by Anastasiia Holotenko, expert of the Coordination Center, on the system of professional training for non-medical specialists in the field of mental health and a report by Olena Kryvenko, practical psychologist of Poltava Polytechnic, titled “The University That Listens: The Psychological Service as a Conductor of Mental Health Culture.”
In his keynote presentation, Volodymyr Onyshchenko highlighted the University’s strong social responsibility and its creation of a safe, resourceful educational environment. The University’s Psychological Service regularly organizes interactive workshops, support groups, art therapy, and creative clubs to reduce stress levels. The systemic approach includes certified training for academic staff, the integration of the “Psychology of Stress Resistance” course for Master’s students, and targeted work with students whose parents are direct participants in combat operations.
The main highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Digest of Best Practices of the “How Are You?” University Community – a document developed with the support of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine and analytical assistance from the Coordination Center. It compiles successful experiences and practical recommendations from leading Ukrainian universities and serves as an essential tool for building a psychologically resilient educational space.
The practical part of the event featured a campus tour showcasing Poltava Polytechnic’s unique facilities that form an integral system of psychological support: the Laboratory of Psychodiagnostics and Corrective Developmental Work – a key professional space for psychological diagnostics and intervention, the Educational and Diagnostic Center “Green Room” – a modern area for developing emotional intelligence and mental relaxation, the Mr. Leader Center for Early Childhood Education and Care – a training laboratory for higher education students, the Center for Contemporary Art, demonstrating the efficiency of art therapy for emotional self-regulation, the specialized Open Space classroom, used for therapeutic choreography and movement-based activities, the Rehabilitation Center and the Veteran Development Center, offering systemic support and reintegration for defenders and their families.
After the tour, participants gathered for networking and reflection. In this informal atmosphere, representatives of Ukrainian universities expressed solidarity and appreciation for the high level of organization and the innovative, modern approaches implemented at Poltava Polytechnic. The community’s recognition reaffirmed the University’s status as a strong hub of psychological safety and a regional leader in fostering a supportive educational environment.
The meeting of the Community of Universities “How Are You?” at National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” once again confirmed that in today’s context, mental health is an undeniable priority, and collective efforts of Ukrainian universities are key to building a nationwide culture of mental well-being.
The team of Poltava Polytechnic expresses sincere gratitude to Oksana Zbitnieva, Head of the Coordination Center for Mental Health under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, for her strategic leadership in implementing the “How Are You?” program and her continuous support of the university community initiative, which plays a vital role in the educational sector.
Special thanks go to all members of the Community of Universities “How Are You?” and the delegates who came to Poltava to participate in the meeting. Your presence and positive feedback confirm the effectiveness of our shared efforts and the importance of scaling best practices of psychological resilience across Ukraine.
A photo report from the meeting of the Community of Universities “How Are You?” at Poltava Polytechnic is available via the link.
Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
