A joint event with the participation of teachers and students of the specialty “Psychology” of Zaporizhia higher education institutions

March 2, organized by the Zaporizhia Regional Coordinator of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “How Are You?” Serhiy Druzhynin, a joint event was held with the participation of teachers and students of the specialty “Psychology” of Zaporizhzhia higher education institutions.

NU “Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic” was represented by a delegation consisting of Vice-Rector Andriy Ivanchenko, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Taisia ​​​​Hayvoronska, Head of the Department of Psychology Vladyslav Koval and two dozen psychology students of various courses.

The results of a study by the Coordination Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine together with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine “Training of non-medical specialists in the field of mental health: challenges of the time, expectations of society and market needs” were presented. The survey covered the issues of psycho-emotional state, motivation for the profession, feeling of readiness for practice, vision of the professional future and expectations for the quality of education. For higher education, this is part of direct quality management, interaction with students and the readiness of university services to work with the consequences of the war. The content analysis of curricula conducted during the study revealed a gap between standards and real needs. Over 90% of programs formally meet state educational standards, but are not sufficiently integrated into the current context and international practices.

Several key roles among non-medical professionals have already emerged in Ukraine:
– psychotherapists (non-medical) provide long-term care for trauma, depression, PTSD
– psychologists offer psychological care in communities and social services
– psychosocial rehabilitation specialists promote the restoration of functions after trauma and injury
– clinical psychologists work with disorders, conduct diagnostics and counseling
– social workers help people in difficult life situations
– clinical chaplains provide spiritual and psycho-emotional support in healthcare institutions

Specialties related to psychology, consistently among the leaders among those chosen by Ukrainian applicants. The modern generation is aware of the importance of mental health. However, the existing system, in particular the medical system, is not able to cope with the volume of challenges on its own, because most of the requests are not about medicine at all. Therefore, it is non-medical specialists who can and are already becoming key providers of care for thousands of Ukrainians.

During the panel discussions, the participants discussed the quality of specialist training, as well as how much depends on qualified care. How important it is not to harm, but instead to add strength to a society that lives in chronic tension and anxiety due to the Russian invasion.

31 higher education institutions from 20 regions of Ukraine are united by a community within the framework of the All-Ukrainian mental health program “How are you?”, among which from the Zaporizhia region is Zaporizhia Polytechnic University. We train not only future specialists, but also become a space for supporting mental health.

Working together – developing together!