Life has been incredibly difficult for Ukrainians since the Russian invasion that began in February 2022. Millions have been forced to flee the fighting—losing loved ones, their homes, their schools and jobs. Many of them are now suffering from long-term stress caused by traumatic events, which can have negative impacts on their mental health. This can be true both for Ukrainians in the country and for those who sought refuge abroad. But conditions are certainly more dangerous for the people who remain living in areas close to the ongoing fighting, such as those living in the southern and eastern parts of Ukraine.
Kryvyi Rih is an industrial city in Dnipropetrovska oblast in southern Ukraine. Before the invasion, it was home to more than 600,000 people, but much has changed in the city since then. Located close to the front line and occupied territory across the Dnipro River, it is under fire constantly and many of the city’s residents have sought safety elsewhere.
At the same time, many have remained. Kryvyi Rih is relatively safe compared to many smaller communities located even closer to the fighting. Despite the danger, it serves as a sanctuary for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from other parts of Dnipropetrovska oblast, neighbouring Khersonska oblast (to the south) and Donetska oblast (to the east).
Conditions are dire for those in the city. Much of Kryvyi Rih’s heavy industry was forced to close because of the war, so unemployment among those who have remained is high. Even basic essentials, such as food and clothing, have become difficult for many people to afford. And though current statistics are difficult to obtain, the United Nations and other organisations have reported increases in gender-based violence (GBV) and conflict-related sexual violence—with IDPs, the elderly and young women among the groups at higher risk.
To respond to the challenges faced in southern Ukraine while simultaneously building local capacity to respond, International Medical Corps has partnered with the Egida Center to carry out GBV and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities in southern Dnipropetrovsk and northern Khersonska oblasts—work made possible thanks to funding from the European Union.
The Egida Center is an ideal partner for International Medical Corps because its staff already have years of experience, having started assisting IDPs after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the start of fighting in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Two of its psychologists—Anna Fesenko and Anna Shumeiko—recently attended training sessions in Kyiv run by International Medical Corps. They described how Egida’s MHPSS programming involves both raising awareness and providing a range of mental health services, while its GBV activities include addressing the psychological and social needs of children. They added that Egida also takes an integrated approach to delivering GBV and MHPSS services—staging joint activities, offering comprehensive programming and managing individual cases.
Psychologists Fesenko and Shumeiko said they are part of separate four-person MHPSS mobile outreach teams—each of which also includes a case manager, facilitator and driver. Shumeiko said that delivering MHPSS in smaller settlements can mean starting with the basics. “A lot of people don’t know where they can get mental health support, for example, or that they can get it for free. And the need for psychological support can be kind of shameful for them,” she said. “So, we work to increase awareness and tell them how they can get help.” She added that Egida collaborates closely with affected communities, and adds that this helps the outreach teams determine the types of sessions, how many are appropriate and how to target specific beneficiaries. Group sessions can also include instruction in stress-management techniques, such as breathing exercises, that are beneficial to everyone.
Both psychologists said that one of the best parts of their work is the feedback they receive. This comes through the evaluation forms that participants complete and especially through the participants’ behaviour. “You can see their attitude after each session,” Shumeiko said. “If they are talkative and still involved, it means that everything went well. We call this our emotional feedback.”
Fesenko said that, in addition to outreach through mobile teams, Egida delivers MHPSS in a variety of other ways—such as consultations at their Kryvyi Rih office, online and via a telephone hotline. Other Egida services include helping to house IDPs, providing them with supplies and clothing, and helping them adapt to their new setting and lives. The NGO also runs a women’s and girls’ safe space in Kryvyi Rih. Both Fesenko and Shumeiko added that they appreciate Egida’s partnership with International Medical Corps because of the leadership it provides and the training it offers.
“Training from organisations such as International Medical Corps equips local psychologists with advanced methods and techniques, enabling them to better handle the diverse needs of affected populations,” Shumeiko said. Then, she added with a smile, “it is also necessary because we want to reach the same level of professionalism as International Medical Corps employees.”