Psychological first aid for the Ukrainian population

The Ukrainian population is suffering immensely from the consequences of the war. Experiences of powerlessness, loss, displacement, destruction and violence often lead to anxiety, depression, sleep disorders or alcohol and drug addiction among those affected. However, the Ukrainian healthcare system has been under maximum strain since the start of the war and is no longer able to provide people with adequate care. Psychosocial care in particular is suffering from the consequences of the war.

A hospital partnership between the Catholic University of Applied Sciences (KH) Freiburg and the association Refudocs Freiburg e.V. on the German side and the Catholic University of Lviv, Caritas Ukraine and other healthcare facilities on the Ukrainian side is providing a remedy.

‘The aim of the partnership project is to strengthen the psychosocial, i.e. psychological and social knowledge and skills of healthcare staff so that they know more, understand more and can provide psychological first aid to their patients,’ explains Michael Wirsching, a specialist in psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy who is involved in the Freiburg Refudocs association. According to Wirsching, the project particularly aims to support those who have to deal with the medical and psychosocial problems first and foremost: ‘Above all, the professional groups who do not work in psychotherapy - to give them something to help them when they are confronted with the consequences of war.’

Psychosocial primary care

Primary psychosocial care is a central component of the project. It follows three steps, says Michael Wirsching. ‘The first step is to recognise and understand, the second is communication and first aid. This is also known as psychological first aid. And the third is very important: recognising the limits of this basic care when you realise that there is more to it, that there is severe traumatisation or severe depression or even the threat of suicide.’

Project manager Claus Muke, Professor of Social Medicine and Social Psychiatry, explains the training programme: ‘Every month, around 15 to 20 healthcare professionals from Lviv come to Freiburg and attend a week-long course in basic psychosocial care. Each day of the course begins with a lecture. The topic of the day - for example anxiety, depression or trauma - is introduced. This is followed by a patient example. Most of the time, these are real-life patients, which we also often include in our medical lessons. Live consultations are also used, i.e. a conversation conducted by one of our medical staff. The participants then spend the whole afternoon practising what they have learnt in the form of practical exercises.’

Healthcare professionals become multipliers

‘And then there is a second track,’ adds Professor of Social Gerontology Cornelia Kricheldorff, who also works on the project. ‘We train some of the people we qualify as trainers so that they can then implement the programme locally in Ukraine.’

31 people acquire the certificate during the course of the project so that they can offer training themselves. Many of them are already applying what they have learnt during the project in Ukraine. Kricheldorff adds: ‘It was very important to us [...] that we also impart skills - in the sense of empowerment - and bring this approach to Ukraine locally.’

The manager of the NaDiya project, Halyna Levkiv, comes from Ukraine herself and has lived in Freiburg for 22 years. In addition to the two aspects of basic psychosocial care and the training of trainers, the project promotes another essential aspect: interpersonal relationships. She says: ‘When the Ukrainians come to Freiburg, we experience an exchange because these doctors, nurses and social workers also get to know each other here. This means that a network is also created in these seminars.’

Strengthened primary care, strengthened healthcare system

What also characterises the project, says project manager Muke, ‘is this face-to-face work and the multi-professional teams, i.e. not the specialists, but the basic care.’ Muke also emphasises the strong focus on needs: ‘In other words, constantly testing anew: what do the participants need, what do they want, what are they looking for?’

This idea of basic care ultimately also strengthens the healthcare system in Ukraine, where, according to Muke, ‘this psychosocial and integrative and interprofessional part is not very well developed in our perception’. Project manager Halyna Levkiv agrees and expresses a wish for the future of NaDiya: ‘What would be our dream goal for this project?’ she asks and gives her own answer: ‘That a centre of expertise and resources is formed in Lviv.’

Quick Facts

Thema: Psychosocial first aid

Duration: 01.04.2023 – 30.09.2024

Volume: 733.000 Euro

Partners: Ukrainian Catholic University of Lviv (UKU), Sheptytsky Hospital Lviv, Caritas Ukraine, Western Ukrainian Specialised Medical Centre (for children and adolescents), Military Medical Clinical Centre of the Western Region in Lviv

Partner organisations in Germany: Catholic University of Applied Sciences Freiburg, Refudocs Freiburg e.V.