Viktor Vus

Introduction: The full-scale war in Ukraine has significantly increased the need for coordinated and accessible mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services. However, there remains limited empirical evidence on how civilians experience psychosocial distress during conflict and how institutions are responding to these needs across different service sectors. Purpose: This study assesses the psychosocial well-being of civilians and the institutional capacity to deliver MHPSS in conflict-affected such as the Kharkiv region. The research seeks to inform both national and international actors on existing gaps and opportunities for strengthening support systems in wartime contexts. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in July 2023 across Kharkiv oblast. Data were collected from 13,343 service recipients and 3,183 service providers working in the healthcare, education, social protection, and NGO sectors. Quantitative analysis focused on indicators of emotional well-being, coping strategies, service satisfaction, institutional capacity, staff well-being, and information trust. Results: Findings revealed high levels of psychological distress among civilians, including symptoms of panic, apathy, and hopelessness. Service satisfaction varied by sector, with non-governmental organizations receiving higher ratings. While basic MHPSS services were moderately available, primary and specialized care remained limited. Institutional staff reported significantly increased workloads and limited access to psychological support or supervision. Most respondents trusted official government sources and professionals for mental health information. Conclusion: The results indicate an urgent need to expand low-threshold, community-based psychosocial services and to improve institutional readiness across sectors. Strengthening workforce well-being, integrating MHPSS into sector-specific practices, and aligning communication strategies with trusted channels are key to building a sustainable response. The proposed conceptual framework offers a multilevel roadmap for MHPSS system development in conflict-affected settings.

Because schoolteachers’ high occupational motivation is an essential prerequisite for their good performance, it is important to understand the personality characteristics that determine it. The present study involved 188 primary and secondary schoolteachers from three regions of Ukraine. Data collection relied on Zamfir’s Motivation for Professional Activities technique, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Personal Orientation Inventory, the communicative inclinations sub-test of the method identifying communicative and organisational inclinations, the Professional Self-Fulfilment Questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey. The data obtained showed that nine out of 10 personality characteristics used in our study significantly influenced schoolteachers’ occupational motivation. Of these, seven variables had a positive effect, contributing to schoolteachers’ intrinsic motivation, but two indicators of occupational burnout (personal accomplishment and emotional exhaustion) had a negative effect, reducing motivation. The most significant personality characteristics were communicative inclinations (explaining 16.6% of the variation in intrinsic motivation), personal accomplishment (9.3%) and self-efficacy (6.0%). Six additional indicators – three indicators of professional self-fulfilment and individual indicators of time competence, emotional exhaustion and inner-directed support – explained schoolteachers’ intrinsic motivation within 2.7–4.3% limits. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the set of 10 personality characteristics used in our study was highly informative (R = .503; R2 = .253), explaining 25.3% of schoolteachers’ intrinsic motivation. The results open up new perspectives to increase and stabilise schoolteachers’ occupational motivation.

Introduction: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services are critically important in times of social and humanitarian crisis, ensuring public health and social stability. Despite their significance, access to MHPSS globally, especially in resource-limited countries, remains insufficient, hindering long-term community recovery. International guidelines (IASC, WHO) call for systemic and integrated approaches, as providing sustainable psychosocial support is a global priority. Purpose: This article aims to demonstrate how Communities of Practice (CoPs) can ensure the continuity and sustainability of MHPSS services at the community level. We seek to bridge the gap between the development of effective psychosocial interventions and their widespread practical application. Specifically, we explore how MHPSS professionals and community members can acquire the necessary skills for localized support and how to create sustainable spaces for continuous learning and knowledge exchange. Approach: This work employs a review-based approach, combining the analysis of scholarly sources and practical examples to develop a conceptual model. We examined reports and recommendations from international organizations (IASC, WHO) and academic publications to identify barriers and opportunities for scaling up MHPSS. CoPs are viewed as a flexible infrastructure for service continuity. The proposed model for implementing MHPSS programs through CoP development covers stages from initial analysis to supervision. The practical application of the model and its effectiveness in service decentralization are illustrated with examples from Ukraine (Resilience Centres) and Poland (WHO mhGAP initiative). Results: The MHPSS Program Implementation Model based on CoP Development, which we propose, comprises eleven stages – from adapting international programs to their integration into state policy, focusing on continuous learning and effective coordination. Conclusion: The effective scaling of psychosocial support is a complex process that requires conscious strategic planning, engagement of all stakeholders, and, most importantly, political will for the institutionalization of these services at the state level. The fundamental importance of continuous psychosocial support necessitates not just isolated interventions but a holistic, interconnected network of services operating at various levels to meet diverse population needs. This requires both horizontal integration (intersectoral cooperation: health, education, social protection, volunteer, and community organizations) and vertical integration (multi-level approach from primary to specialized care). Close coordination among state institutions, international partners, and civil society is indispensable for ensuring the continuity and consistency of MHPSS and prioritizing mental health at the national level.

Introduction: The ongoing war in Ukraine has triggered a large-scale humanitarian crisis, significantly affecting the mental health and psychosocial well-being of the population. In this context, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) has become a vital component of humanitarian response, requiring coordinated and integrated systems aligned with global standards, such as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) framework. Purpose: This research explores how MHPSS coordination mechanisms operate in wartime Ukraine, identifies key actors and systemic barriers, and evaluates the impact of coordinated approaches on access, resilience, and psychosocial well-being. Approach: The study employs a desk-based narrative synthesis methodology, drawing on peer-reviewed literature, humanitarian reports, and policy documents, including the Ukrainian government’s Concept for the Development of Mental Health Care until 2030. Analytical lenses include the IASC MHPSS intervention pyramid and localization theory. The study also proposes visual tools to analyze coordination structures and service delivery pathways. Results: The study finds that Ukraine’s MHPSS coordination system demonstrates notable adaptability and well-developed structures. Core activities such as 4W mapping, non-specialist training programs, and policy alignment initiatives have expanded access, particularly to community-based care. However, challenges including stigma, provider burnout, insufficient funding, and limited rural access continue to constrain effectiveness. Innovative strategies like telehealth platforms and mobile clinics reflect adaptive resilience. Overlapping mandates and data fragmentation further complicate service alignment. Nonetheless, coordinated efforts have reached over 1.2 million individuals in 2023, with early evidence suggesting reductions in psychological distress among internally displaced populations. These findings underscore the critical role of context-sensitive, decentralized approaches in building sustainable MHPSS systems in conflict-affected settings. Conclusions: Ukraine’s MHPSS coordination system demonstrates adaptability and effectiveness in crisis settings, but enduring structural challenges remain. Future priorities should include strengthening local leadership, ensuring long-term financing, and integrating services to ensure sustainable support in crisis contexts.

Interventions that bolster social connectedness, meaning in life, and optimism may help promote psychological resilience among mental health workers exposed to ongoing war-related and work-related stressors.

Background: In the world of elderly people and people with chronic diseases, caregivers give a solution to caring at home. This study aimed to evaluate the burden of caregivers of patients with chronic diseases in primary health care and identify possible demographic and other determinants of it. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample, which was conducted in two health centers. The sample comprised 291 caregivers who visited the aforementioned health centers in Patra, Greece. A composite questionnaire was utilized: the first part included demographic data and care-related information and the second included the Zarit Burden Interview and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Results: The highest mean score in the DASS was recorded in the depression subscale and the lowest in the stress subscale. Concerning the Zarit Burden Interview, the highest mean score was recorded in the personal strain subscale and the lowest in the management of care subscale. The highest correlation was recorded between role strain and anxiety and the lowest was between management of care and stress. Similarly, the total score in the Zarit Burden Interview correlated significantly (in a positive direction) with depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusions: Most of the caregivers of patients with chronic diseases in primary health care experienced a moderate to severe burden (especially in the dimension of personal strain) and moderate depression. The experienced burden was positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. There were significant differences in the caregivers’ burden according to several demographic and care-related characteristics.

Objective: The ongoing Russian–Ukrainian war has been linked to mental health problems in the Ukrainian general population. To date, however, scarce research has examined the mental health of psychosocial support workers (PSWs) in Ukraine who have a burdensome workload in the context of ongoing conflict. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and correlates of burnout, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal ideation (SI) in PSWs in Ukraine during the Russian–Ukrainian war. Methods: One hundred seventy-eight PSWs in Ukraine completed a survey assessing war exposure, mental health, and psychosocial characteristics. Results: A total 59.6% of PSWs screened positive for burnout, 38.2% for PTSD, and 10.7% for current SI. Lower optimism was associated with greater odds of burnout. Greater distress from witnessing war-related destruction, lower optimism, lower presence of meaning in life, and lower levels of close social relationships were associated with greater odds of burnout. Lower presence of meaning in life was associated with greater odds of SI. Conclusions: Results of this study highlight the mental health challenges faced by PSWs in Ukraine during the ongoing Russian–Ukrainian war. They further suggest that interventions to foster meaning in life and promote social connectedness may “help the helpers” during this ongoing conflict.

Aim: To substantiate the possibilities of developing a comprehensive system of psychosocial support for Ukrainians during and after the war through thedevelopment of an integrated model of psychosocial service provision in the community, which promotes cross-sectoral interaction and expands the possibilities of integrating and scaling up multiple levels of mental health interventions. Materials and Methods: The article is based on the use of bibliosemantic analysis of scientific works on the topic of mental health and mental health during the war. Conclusions: It is emphasised that in developing a comprehensive system of psychosocial support, it is necessary to: ensure accessibility of services for those in need; integrate services into the general health and social protection system; use a multisectoral approach, involving various organisations, institutions and professionals; train professionals to work in war conditions; develop and implement psychoeducation and psychological support programmes; monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of programmes. Particular attention is paid to psychoeducation as a technology that can be used at different levels of psychological intervention by both mental health professionals and other specialists involved in the provision of social services in communities. The spread of the impact of psychoeducational programmes will contribute to the development of community resilience in the face of social and psychological risks provoked by the war. A mechanism for scaling up the capabilities of the Technical Working Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS TWG), an association of leading international and Ukrainian NGOs specialising in mental health, established in Ukraine with the support of the WHO and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, is proposed. The idea of creating a network of Resilience Centres in communities with the aim of forming a comprehensive system of psychosocial support at the state and community levels is substantiated.

Introduction: While the detrimental impact of the Russian-Ukrainian War on mental health of Ukrainian population has been well-documented, less attention has been given to mental health workers (MHWs) providing mental health support services amid the war. Purpose: To examine levels of domain-specific well-being in Ukrainian MHWs; identify and quantify the relative importance of factors associated with well-being; and examine interactions of risk and protective factors in relation to each well-being domain. Methodology: A convenience sample of 178 MHWs completed a survey that assessed their well-being, and sociodemographic, war-related, mental health, and psychosocial characteristics. Results: Lower levels of mental health difficulties such as anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms, and higher levels of psychosocial factors such as higher optimism, gratitude, and presence and search for meaning were associated with higher well-being. MHWs with high levels of protective psychosocial factors were more likely to report higher well-being even in the presence of mental health difficulties. Conclusions: Results of this study provide insight into the levels and correlates of multiple well-being domains among Ukrainian MHWs amid the ongoing war. They further suggest that interventions to mitigate mental health difficulties and bolster protective psychosocial factors may help promote well-being in this population

Introduction Healthcare workers in anesthesiology departments often experience burnout syndrome, which may be combined with anxiety and depression. Aim The study aimed to assess the levels of burnout among nurses and physicians working in anesthesiology departments in public hospitals in Attica and to investigate a possible correlation between burnout, anxiety, and depression. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted on physicians and nurses working in anesthesiology departments in public hospitals in Attica, Greece. A questionnaire was distributed electronically using the snowball sampling method, including questions about demographic characteristics, burnout, anxiety, and depression. Results Physicians and nurses in anesthesiology departments were found to have moderate levels of burnout, and normal/low levels of anxiety and depression. More specifically, it was found that 2% of physicians and 14.4% of nurses had extremely elevated levels of burnout. On the other hand, 6.1% of physicians and 23.7% of nurses had high anxiety, while 6.1% of physicians and 15.5% of nurses had elevated levels of depression. Females (p = 0.008), staff aged 45–55 (p = 0.021), lower educational level (p = 0.025), nurses (p = 0.001), more than 21 years of service (p = 0.001), and having children (p = 0.008) were determinants of greater levels of personal burnout. Work-related burnout correlated with having children (p = 0.017), whereas client-related burnout was significantly higher for nurses (p = 0.002). In addition, a correlation was found between anxiety, depression, and increased levels of burnout (p = 0.000). Conclusions As physicians and nurses working in anesthesiology departments have stressful jobs and work long hours, it is important to further study their physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion as well as psychological resilience levels.