THE VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF EXCELLENCE Joined a Professional Discussion on Advancing the Veteran Support System

On May 20, 2026, a closing event of Mental Health Awareness Month was held in Kyiv, organized by the Donetsk Regional State Administration (Regional Military Administration) as part of the nationwide mental health initiative “How Are You?”.

The event focused on reviewing the outcomes of the awareness campaign, discussing the current mental health needs of communities in the Donetsk region, and identifying future directions for strengthening psychological and psychosocial support for the population in the context of the ongoing war.

Representatives of THE VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, Institute of Psychiatry, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, participated in the panel discussion entitled “The Peer-to-Peer Approach and Scalable Psychological Interventions: From Science to Practice in the Veteran Support System.”

The panel featured Iryna Pinchuk, Director of the Institute of Psychiatry and President of the Ukrainian Psychiatric Association; Stanislav Chumak, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute and Head of THE VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF EXCELLENCE; and Oleksii Kovalevskyi, Lead Specialist at the Institute, veteran, and peer support consultant.

During his presentation, Stanislav Chumak, Head of THE VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, emphasized:

“An effective veteran support system should integrate evidence-based psychological interventions, an interdisciplinary approach, and the active involvement of veterans themselves in the recovery process. At THE VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, we are committed to ensuring that scientific developments do not remain purely theoretical but are translated into practical solutions that benefit veterans, their families, and local communities.”

Special attention was given to the practical value of the peer-to-peer model within the psychosocial support system. Oleksii Kovalevskyi noted:

“For a veteran, it is essential to know that someone nearby understands their experience not only professionally but also personally. This is why the peer-to-peer approach is an important complement to professional psychological care, fostering trust, mutual support, and gradual recovery.”

The participation of the Center’s representatives in this professional discussion marked another important step toward strengthening collaboration among the scientific community, public authorities, mental health professionals, and the veteran community.

THE VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF EXCELLENCE continues to advance the implementation of evidence-based psychological interventions, promote the peer-to-peer approach, train mental health professionals, and strengthen the support system for veterans, their families, and communities across Ukraine.

Source: Donetsk Regional State Administration (Regional Military Administration), “Donetsk Region Summarized the Results of Mental Health Awareness Month.”