The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is actively working on creating a system of psychological support and assistance for servicemen.
This was announced by Oksana Sukhorukova, head of the Department of Health at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, during a section dedicated to the psychological support of the Armed Forces at the 1st Annual International Congress on Military Medicine and Mental Health.
According to her, the number of servicemen diagnosed with "neuralgic diseases related to stress" is gradually increasing. Currently, 29% of these diseases are PTSD, and this number is expected to rise.
Oksana Sukhorukova emphasized the importance of providing psychological support and assistance to servicemen at all stages of their service. She outlined four main stages of psychological assistance:
- Self-help or peer-to-peer support
- Crisis interventions
- Psychological development points at a safe distance from the front line
- Long-term psychological assistance
Special attention is given to the support of servicemen returning from captivity and their families.
"We must support families throughout this journey: from the moment they receive the news that their loved one is missing, through the search, the waiting, and until their release," emphasized the head of the Department of Health at the Ministry of Defense.
Oksana Sukhorukova also called for cooperation in creating an effective psychological support system:
"The Ministry of Defense can issue any document, create any policy. But we can only implement this policy together. I hope that each of you will join in creating this system, in strengthening it, and in caring for the mental health of our servicemen."
