The ongoing war in Ukraine has profoundly impacted the mental health of its population, significantly affecting people’s ability to participate in the workforce, access essential services, and maintain their overall well-being. Widespread damage to healthcare infrastructure, shortages of medical supplies, and soaring prices for pharmaceuticals have only worsened the situation, creating immense challenges for mental health service delivery.
Despite these setbacks, health policy reforms and services that were introduced just before the war have continued to be rolled out. These reforms hold significant implications for the future of mental health care in Ukraine, shaping the country’s approach to access, service quality, and resource allocation.
To address these critical challenges, The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Mental Health in Ukraine was established. The Commission aims to assess the country’s current mental health needs and develop a comprehensive strategy for delivering evidence-based mental health care in a system that upholds human rights and recognizes the lived experiences of individuals with mental illness.
The Commission’s work was organized into five specialized workgroups, each focused on key areas for reform and development within Ukraine’s mental health system. These include clinical services, clinical training, research, forensics and legal advocacy, and health financing. The workgroups evaluated opportunities for modernization and outlined the requirements needed to implement successful changes in each area.
The official launch event of the Commission will feature opening remarks by Dévora Kestel, representing the World Health Organization’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, and Oksana Zbitnieva, from the Coordinating Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Key elements of the Commission’s report will be presented by the lead Commissioners, followed by a panel discussion on the findings and recommendations.
Additionally, the launch event can be viewed live on Wednesday, October 9th, from 12:00–13:00 CEST / 13:00–14:00 Kyiv time.
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