First Session of the «Self-Help Plus»Course for Veterans and Their Families: Support That Begins with Words and Trust

On June 7, the first session of the “Self-Help+” course took place at the Veteran Development Center of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. The session was led by Svitlana Kaminska, a psychologist at the Institute of Psychiatry, The Veteran Mental Health Center Of Excellence.

A total of 22 participants took part, including veterans and their family members. For many, it was their first experience in a group setting of this kind, but from the very first minutes, the atmosphere was filled with trust, openness, and a sincere desire to be heard.

🔹 Self-Help Plus (SH+) is an innovative group program developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help individuals cope with stress in the context of emergencies, trauma, loss, and prolonged emotional strain. It combines elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and psychoeducation. The program is aimed at building skills in adaptation, self-regulation, and improving emotional well-being in times of uncertainty, grief, and chronic stress — making it especially relevant for veterans and their families during wartime.

👥 This was the first of five planned sessions, during which participants will continue to explore practices that help them stay resilient, support themselves and their loved ones, and find grounding within themselves and their community.