Listening to a suffered person's story is already a great support

The second part of the training-course on psychosocial support and psychological recovery of people affected by the war was eagerly anticipated. Psychologists and specialists in the field gathered on October 13-16 in Ternopil to continue studying issues related to working in crisis and emergency situations.

In these challenging times, we continue to work and believe that each new day brings us closer to Victory. During emergencies, civilian population suffers greatly, and thus requires protection and support for mental health and psychosocial well-being, both during and after the crisis. The first day of the event focused on working in crisis situations.

Simulation exercises allowed participants to better understand how events might unfold, what action algorithms should be applied, and what kind of specialists can provide first psychological aid at various stages. One of the thoughts expressed during the discussion of the exercises was: "Listening to someone's story is already a great support". It's important not to force, but gently guide people to talk about their crisis experiences, as not everyone wants to talk about what happened or tell their personal circumstances.

To support someone in a crisis, it's often enough to just listen to them and be there. It might be worth informing those affected that support is nearby if needed or offering them practical help, like food or a glass of water. As the participants said themselves: "If someone is thirsty, just give them water".

Eventually, the training came to an end, and it was time to summarize participants' impressions and express wishes for the creation of a third part of the training. This future segment would aim to provide a deeper understanding of the processes of psychosocial support.

The event was held in the frames of the "Peace Building and Conflict Resolution in Ukraine – Step Forward" project, implemented with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office’s funds by IFA (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen), Funding programme zivik.