Mental Health in Every Area of Life: The First Lady Summarized the Implementation of “How Are You?” This Year

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The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, summarized this year's results of implementing the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program "How Are You?".

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"The path to mental health services rarely begins in a psychologist's or psychiatrist's office. People come with their concerns to places where they feel familiar and safe: their family doctor, a social worker, a veterans' space, or a youth center. And often, they express only what is on the surface, which is usually less painful than their true needs. That is why the philosophy of 'How Are You?' is about being present where people live in their communities, where they open up, and building bridges from there," the President's wife noted.

The mental health support system being developed by "How Are You?" is integrated into the primary healthcare network in more than 2,200 facilities, with over 16,000 doctors providing services. The most common reasons for seeking help include feelings of anxiety, nervousness, or tension, sleep disturbances, and low mood.

More than 138,000 healthcare workers have already completed the WHO mhGAP training to provide mental health support. A network of mental health centers is being established within cluster and supra-cluster hospitals, with 150 centers already operating in different regions.

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Ukraine has 326 resilience centers - barrier-free spaces where anyone can access psychosocial services, participate in group therapy sessions, and attend meetings. Over 300 communities across 24 regions and Kyiv are involved in the program, including 17 relocated communities from temporarily occupied territories. In total, resilience centers have hosted over 1.5 million activities for 2.5 million people.

Within the "How Are You?" program, the Ministry of Education and Science introduced the American social-emotional learning course "Lessons of Happiness" in 44 pilot schools. The course is taught by 170 teachers and representatives of postgraduate pedagogical education institutes.

The Ministry has also mandated that all higher education institutions incorporate a mental health component. The "How Are You?" University Community, which unites 31 higher education institutions, has integrated mental health into its strategic goals. Universities are implementing innovations in mental health, including VR technology and biofeedback therapy.

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Ninety-two percent of the personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine have completed training in first psychological aid. As a result, 21,200 affected Ukrainians have received support, including 2,500 employees of the State Emergency Service and the National Police. Within the Social-Legal Protection of Victims and Their Families functional subsystem, psychological assistance was provided to 1,000 victims and 235 of their relatives. Nearly 80,000 people participate in the Point of Psychological Practices educational project.

"This year, the key approach of 'How Are You?' - mental health across all sectors and policies - was enshrined in law. What is even more encouraging is that this approach is already alive in communities. Mental health has moved beyond the healthcare sector and become an organic part of support networks in various fields - economy, education, sports, culture, information policy, and the security and defense sectors," emphasized the President's wife.

One can access mental health support online, in person, or within one's community via the "How Are You?" platform under the "Help" section, which includes contacts for approximately 13,000 specialists and organizations from various fields. Convenient guidance materials with information on services, contacts, and target audiences have also been created in 220 communities.

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Regional Days of Joint Action - special events dedicated to mental health and mutual support - take place monthly in different regions and in more than 200 communities of the "How Are You?" network. Over 120,000 people, including family members of military personnel, veterans, students, and older adults, have already participated in 15 of these events. These are spaces not only for gaining knowledge but also for supporting one another.

"Every 'How Are You?' guide, step by step, touch by touch, builds a support network through words, actions, and co-participation. Each person practices humanity in their sphere, in their place. This is the virtue that makes us special," Olena Zelenska noted.

Throughout the year, the "How Are You?" communication campaign has helped Ukrainians care for their mental health daily, teaching self-help skills and raising awareness of available support. The campaign also launched platforms such as "SensoTeka. How Are You?" with messages of emotional support and "Touches of Support" - a gallery of heartwarming stories and actions.

"How Are You?" also continues to produce useful content: guides, manuals, educational series, and training, all collected in the Products section. This year, the platform also launched certificate courses with leading experts on burnout prevention, child support, veteran interaction, and more.

"There is always a dilemma about how to briefly explain 'How Are You?' It is about a system of services across different sectors and a new service philosophy. It is about coordination across levels - from national to community. It is about a new culture where 'It's my time for me,' and support is our superpower. It is about reflecting on hundreds of thousands of war experiences. It is about learning to live with these experiences, so they don't destroy us, but help us grow a new skin. It is about 'jointly' and 'together,' because alone, it is impossible. It is about the human in every human. Support when help is scarce," the First Lady concluded.

The implementation of "How Are You?" is overseen by the Coordination Centre for Mental Health under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, with expert support from the World Health Organization.