Mental health and psychosocial support in Ukraine are giving children tools to cope, connect and rediscover trust
The following story is shared by Ksenia, a psychologist with SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine, who provided group support to young people in the village of Valky. She reflects on her journey, the challenges faced, and the powerful process of healing that unfolded.
As part of SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine’s mobile mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) initiative, group sessions provided safe moments for healing in places where access to formal mental health services is limited and the need for support runs deep. The mobile unit recently reached the villages of Merefa, Pokotylivka and Valky in Kharkiv region.
Valky is a small town just an hour from Kharkiv. It is a quiet place where people often keep their emotions hidden, carrying the weight of their experiences in silence. But war leaves its mark far beyond the front lines. It shows up as stress and suppressed emotions held in the body, silencing conversations and slowly eroding connection. That is why our work in Valky mattered so deeply.
Gaining trust, one session at a time
Our sessions with ninth-grade students were careful invitations to speak, feel, and reconnect. At first, the teenagers came in small groups and were quiet, cautious, unsure of our purpose. Each carried their own story. Some had stayed in town, others had left and returned. A few had shut themselves off entirely. Trust was not freely given; it had to be earned.
We worked slowly with the young people, and together, we explored themes of identity, belonging, and personal boundaries. One powerful exercise asked them to visualize their circle of support, placing themselves at the centre and surrounding it with people they trust, even if it was just a little. For many, it was a moment of realization: “I didn’t know I had so many people who cared about me.”
Breakthroughs and empowerment
The process wasn’t always easy. In one session, conflict erupted within the group, and raw emotions surfaced. Through role-play, symbolic storytelling, and guided dialogue, that tension transformed into something more, a moment of shared growth.
We also used visual storytelling to help the teens express feelings that words couldn’t. During one of our final sessions, each participant named something they valued and wanted to carry forward. It was a moment of quiet empowerment.
In a town where connection had been eroded by fear and silence, these group sessions became a place for renewed belonging and emotional recovery. Through play and reflection, these young people began to relearn how to be together, trust, express themselves, and begin to heal.
A wider reach yet rising needs
Since the launch of the mobile mental health clinic in April 2024, 2,365 people across the Kharkiv region have benefitted from mental health and psychosocial support sessions and consultations. Additionally, 175 teachers, social workers, and local professionals were trained in MHPSS techniques, extending the program's impact to an additional 4,375 people, 87% of whom are children.
Despite this progress, the need for mental health and emergency support continues to grow. With demand outpacing current capacity, many children and families are still waiting for the help they urgently need.
How you can help
We thank the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, and the Ptarmigan Charitable Foundation for their generous support.
You can help children and young people affected by conflict access the care they need to heal and grow. Donate to the SOS MAYDAY Emergency Relief Fund.