Military bases in Ukraine to provide psychosocial support to soldiers

Social support services will now be provided to the military and their families in Ukraine, based at military units, Rubryka reports, referring to the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine.

What's the problem?

Military units lack specialized departments to address civilian life issues for service members and support their families. While the focus of military personnel is on defending peaceful life, they and their families may need additional support, ranging from psychological assistance to resolving everyday matters. This is especially true for families that have relocated from affected communities, families with children, or relatives with disabilities.

What's the solution?

Ukraine launched new psychosocial support services for military personnel and their families at military units.

Through social service, soldiers and their families can receive consultations on psychosocial support, communication improvement within the family, and assistance and guidance for service members during conscription and mobilization.

"The social support of the military should start from the mobilization stage, the beginning of service. The main thing is that the military and their families should not be left alone with their problems and requests. The social support service in military units will allow us to comprehensively approach solving this task and contribute to creating a holistic social support system," said Oksana Zholnovych, the Minister of Social Policy.

How does it work?

"At the moment, the pilot project is starting in four regions — Poltava, Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Volyn. Military units that will be the first to join the project have already been selected. Service providers — organizations that will provide this support —  are also known," the statement said.

The ministry noted that the key goal of the service is to provide psychosocial support to the military and their families on issues not directly related to military service:

• Consultation on document processing or representation in state institutions,
• Information about payments and benefits,
• Legal assistance, and more.

Among the organizations participating in the project are the "Nashe Pravo" Foundation, the "Vivtorok" Foundation, the public movement "Women's Power of Ukraine," and the "Tam, de my – tam Ukraina" Foundation.

The Ministry of Social Policy notes that involving non-governmental organizations in the service provision will expand the market of social service providers and, most importantly, improve the efficiency of providing such services through relevant expertise.

As reported earlier, a four-day workshop started in Kyiv to train civil society organizations on providing social support services to military personnel and their families. This is a pilot project of the Ministry of Social Policy in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense.

Rubryka has also reported on the launch of an online chat for psychological support for men in Ukraine.