Solutions from Ukraine: Kyiv hosts forum focused on men's mental health
The event "Men's Mental Health in Ukraine: How the Psychological Support Line 2345 Tackles the Challenges of War" honored the Line's 2nd year of operation.
Rubryka writes about this.
What is the problem?
Taking care of one's mental health is crucial for overall well-being. Sadly, men often fail to seek psychological assistance due to gender stereotypes or other biases. In times of war, the number of stressful situations skyrockets, making it even more important for individuals to address any psychological struggles and find ways to cope.
What is the solution?
The organizers of the Forum gathered representatives from government and public institutions specializing in mental health, along with influential leaders and notable Ukrainian athletes, to examine and address critical issues surrounding the protection and well-being of men's mental health following the commencement of full-scale war in February 2022.
The event will address several key issues, including:
- the significance of coordinating the efforts of the public, international organizations, and the government to promote a culture of care for men's mental health in Ukraine;
- the role of supporting men's psychological health in combatting and preventing domestic and gender-based violence;
- the potential for collaboration between the Ministry of Social Policy and the Line to address these matters.
Renowned Ukrainian figures such as Oleksandr Teren, a veteran, writer, and host of the YouTube series "Legs Off," and Oleksandr Pedan, an esteemed television host and public figure, candidly shared their personal struggles with psychological challenges and discussed the impact of their mental state on different aspects of their lives.
Oleksandr Pedan, Ukrainian TV presenter and public figure, said:
"The main thing for everyone now is not to stop in their actions. […] Keep working, learn new things, don't give up your favorite hobby, and help those in need in every possible way. This will give a sense of usefulness, which, in turn, will give strength to move on. My family helps me a lot now. Also, an important component of my life is sports."
Oleksandr Teren, veteran, writer, author of the YouTube show "Legs Off", noted:
"I experience a range of emotions, from feeling down and depressed to being ecstatic and elated. However, I acknowledge each and allow myself to feel and process them fully. I must not suppress them but let them run their course to avoid feeling emotionally stagnant.
Books and sports are really the things that keep me going. While still in the hospital, the first thing I started doing was reading to distract myself from my phantom and physical pains. It kept me in that good humor and gave me the understanding that everything ahead of me would be successful. Now, I am planning even more, but this resource must be taken from somewhere. Don't be shy; don't be afraid to go to a psychotherapist."
How does the Men's Psychological Support Line 2345 work?
Today, one of the available tools for stabilizing the emotional state of Ukrainian men is the Men's Psychological Help Line at number 2345. For almost two years of work, the Men's Support Line specialists and staff processed more than 21,000 appeals, conducted more than 16,400 consultations and changed the lives of 9,345 men and those they love.
According to the statistics of the project, the most common requests made by Ukrainian men are:
- emotional problems (53.15%): anxiety disorders, depressive states, uncontrolled anger, mood disorders;
- problems in romantic relationships (26.21%);
- employment problems (17.35%);
- addiction problems (11.85%);
- problems related to military actions (11.84%), including fear of mobilization, parting with a loved one, loss of life orientations;
- domestic violence (9.58%), where ⅔ of appeals refer to psychological violence;
- suicide and homicide (8%).
The Line's psychologists have noticed a rise in military personnel and war veterans seeking help for issues such as guilt, heightened emotions, lack of self-control, and difficulties in communication with family members.
The Support Line directs men to TatoHub, a gender-transformative platform for responsible fatherhood. As a result, a dedicated section of the forum focused on shifts in social dynamics within Ukrainian families and the evolution of male perspectives on parenting amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Specialists of the TatoHub project emphasized that the modern interpretation of "responsible parenthood" requires the father to possess the skills and tools to effectively manage stress, reduce emotional tension, and stabilize his own condition. Even in cases where the father is "at a distance," his psychological state directly affects the emotional state of the children.
