A network of mental health centers is to be opened in Kherson region

Mental health centers will provide citizens with affordable, high-quality and effective psychosocial support during the war.

Kherson CMA's plans to establish the centers were discussed during a meeting dedicated to the development of a network of specialized institutions in the region. The meeting was attended by Iryna Mykychak, head of the Coordination Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Yaroslav Shanko, deputy head of the Kherson Regional State Administration, Tetiana Karchevych, director of the Health Department of the Kherson Regional State Administration, and heads of health care institutions in the region.

The participants reviewed the availability of resources for the creation of specialized care centers and identified the next steps for the implementation of this project. Starting next year, the centers will operate under the new package of the Medical Guarantee Program, which means that the services of specialists will be free of charge for patients. Each space will have a special multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, and other specialists who will provide care on an outpatient, inpatient, or at the patient's place of residence basis.

"As a result of the war, the need for psychological support for our people is growing. Thanks to these institutions, both civilians and military personnel will be able to get qualified help from highly specialized specialists," said Shanko.

Earlier, three branches of the Center for Psychosocial Support and Solving Social Issues of Veterans, Servicemen and Their Families were opened in Korabelny, Ingul and Central districts of Kherson. The psychologists work closely with the city's veterans' support center to help veterans and their families improve their mental state and regain strength. The opening of the facilities was part of a project by the international organization Project HOPE: International partners equipped the premises of the branches to provide psychological support, hired social work specialists and two psychologists, and will pay for the work of the specialists for at least a year.

Олеся Ланцман