«I lived in Kharkiv. One month after the war outbreak, I had almost gotten used to the sound of bombs and missels exploding. After all, that was my hometown and I was not ready to flee – tells us Svitlana, 65 years old. – It was when Ksesia, my daughter, asked me to leave Kharkiv with my nephew that I realized it was time to act and leave my life, my house, my friends. Once we arrived in Chernivtsi I finally felt safe and sound yet it has not been easy. I was feeling broken and bewildered without any point of reference».
Among many others, Svitlana shared her experience during a meeting organized by CUAMM to offer mental health care to refugees in Chernivsti, thanks to the support of local volunteers and psychologists. 6 meetings, 500 people supported, 5 psychologists and numerous community workers have been involved in the activity supported by AICS and carried out by CUAMM in collaboration with VRB “Screening, referral and monitoring of people highly needy of mental health services”.
The meetings held were occasion of gathering and entertainment as well as moment for raising awareness on mental health. Psychological support activities were carried out in three accomodation centres in Chernivsti. With the support of two national psychologists, mental health services are currently being offered to internally displaced people on a weekly basis. Over three months, more than 200 refugees received psychological support while 11 health workers from accomodation centres were offered a training program on stress management and burnout prevention.
«These meetings gave us the opportunity to experience a new feeling of belonging, I got the chance to meet many people who went through the same experience I did. I took comfort from giving voice to my feelings in a safe space where I also heard others’ stories, different yet similar and familiar. The professional psychologists put us at ease and I am greateful for the moments we had», states Svitlana.
It has been 11 months since Svitlana fled. She has never stopped believing that one day she will return home: «Come visit Kharkiv once the war is over, the town is beautiful».
