In an unexpected parallel, mental health professionals from the war-torn region of Ukraine have found shared insights with their counterparts working in rural areas of New South Wales (NSW). The exchange of knowledge highlights the resilience and adaptability of mental health care providers facing diverse challenges.
Kyiv-based psychiatrist Viktoriia Kolokolova recently visited Dubbo, a rural area in NSW, where she gained valuable insights into strategies for working with patients who have limited access to face-to-face treatment.
“In Ukraine, it’s very hard to get specialists to rural areas,” she observed. “It’s very interesting how the doctors [in Dubbo] practice remotely, how they build interdisciplinary work, foster teamwork, and tackle the problems.”
Dr. Kolokolova is part of a group of seven Ukrainian psychiatrists and psychologists on a training fellowship sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This group, associated with Lviv’s Ukrainian Catholic University and the Kyiv-based mental health NGO Bezbaryernist, is currently based at the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors in Sydney.
However, their recent visit to Dubbo, hosted by the Western NSW Local Health District, aimed to explore strategies for working with fewer resources and less access to clinical settings.
What stood out for Dr. Kolokolova was the clinical approaches observed at Dubbo Hospital’s Mental Health Unit, which inspired her more than urban-based services. “We didn’t talk much about medications; we talked a lot about art, creating safe spaces, the importance of light, and involving carers, children, and families in the treatment process,” she noted.
Demand for mental health support in Ukraine is on the rise due to Russia’s large-scale invasion, which has continued for a second year. The conflict has led to widespread bombings of civilian areas and infrastructure, resulting in nearly 27,000 civilians killed or injured since February of the previous year.
Dr. Kolokolova emphasized the concern of generational trauma in Ukraine, similar to the intergenerational trauma experienced by Indigenous patients. She was impressed by how Dubbo’s medical professionals respected culture and history, using art and resources for healing in addition to traditional therapy and pharmaceuticals.
Dubbo Hospital, serving a local government area of 55,000 people and extending support to three times that number as the primary hospital hub, showcased innovative approaches in using technology to treat patients living remotely.
Dr. Warren Kealy-Bateman, Dubbo’s mental health clinical director, mentioned an online tool successfully used to treat remote patients with conditions such as depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, or PTSD. This technology could potentially be adapted for Ukrainians facing similar challenges.
Dr. Kealy-Bateman suggested, “Sometimes maybe the interface of the internet might be a much more accessible way to deliver effective mental health care when it’s most needed.”
Dr. Kolokolova acknowledged the urgency of practical tools, noting that they do not have the luxury of time for experimentation in Ukraine, where most resources are diverted to the military.
“We really are very short in resources because most of our resources are going directly to our military — that’s why we’re seeking so much help,” she concluded, highlighting the critical importance of knowledge exchange in challenging times.
