On November 6-7, 2025, the first wave of trainings “Strengthening the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist for Work in the Humanitarian Sector” took place. Over two days, participants from various regions of Ukraine immersed themselves in modern approaches to supporting mental health and psychosocial resilience in the context of humanitarian work. The training aimed not only to enhance the professional capacity of mental health specialists, but also to develop their ability to pass on knowledge further – through educational courses, seminars, and trainer activities.
The event brought together 18 representatives from 12 universities that are members of the Higher Education Institutions Community of the All-Ukrainian Program “How Are You?”. National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” was represented at the training by Lesia Klevaka, Acting Head of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, and Anastasiia Vediuk, specialist of the University Psychological Service.
During the training, participants:
- mastered key principles and standards of work in the humanitarian sector;
- deepened their understanding of the concept of mental health and psychosocial support;
- practiced skills of providing psychological first aid in crisis situations;
- explored the nature of stress and effective ways to regulate it, particularly using the BASIC Ph model;
- developed trainer competencies for working with students and colleagues;
- created and presented their own mini-trainings on psychosocial support.
The event became an effective platform for exchanging experience among professionals from the educational and humanitarian sectors. Particular attention was paid to the role of higher education institutions in shaping a culture of care for students’ mental health. University lecturers and staff of psychological services today are key promoters of the values of care, resilience, and mutual support.
Following the training, participants received certificates of completion (16 hours / 0.5 ECTS), confirming their participation in professional development and readiness to apply the acquired knowledge in their daily work.
The All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “How Are You?”, initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska, is aimed at developing a system of high-quality support in the field of mental health, fostering a culture of caring for oneself and others, and strengthening specialists working at the intersection of the humanitarian, educational, and social spheres.
The participation of Poltava Polytechnic in the training became another step toward strengthening the professional community of specialists capable of supporting the mental health of the population amid modern challenges. The knowledge and skills gained will contribute to creating an even more supportive environment at the university for students, lecturers, and staff, where the priority is mutual support, resilience, and care for the individual.
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Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
