Name of the initiative: "PsychoDAY"
When a person is urgently forced to change his place of residence, it is important not only to satisfy his basic life needs, but also to create conditions for the restoration of mental health and stable psyche. That is why the organizers of the "PsychoDay" project chose not only to improve the well-being of the participants, but also to provide them with tools and knowledge that they can effectively use in the future and share with others. This will help to create a positive chain of influence that will contribute to the expansion of the educational and support network in the field of mental health.
The grant funds were used to purchase equipment and materials for conducting psychological practices and organizing a retreat. The applicants conducted a series of art therapy classes for adults and children "Overcoming anxiety through art therapy", psychological trainings "Knowing ourselves through games", cinematography sessions and other events, in which the leading psychologists of Chernivtsi were involved. During these psychological practices, the participants in safe conditions had the opportunity to experience their own emotions, better understand them by expressing them in the creative process, get a circle of support, and find like-minded people. The received feedback indicates that the psychological sessions contributed to improving mental health, reducing the level of anxiety, improving mutual understanding in the families of military personnel, strengthening social ties and increasing resilience.
In total, more than 150 forced migrants and family members of military and veterans joined the events. Of them, 14 women from the most vulnerable categories were given the opportunity to participate in a three-day psychological retreat in the Carpathians. There, in the midst of nature, they regained their strength, participated in group therapies, art therapy and relaxation classes. Psychologists helped them learn how to cope with stress and find inner balance.
"It was my first vacation during the war, I'm just happy to be with you. You gave me the strength to move on. I came with questions and I got answers. I'm just happy! I'm ready to move forward, I'm new and I have a new meaning in life", - this is how one of the participants describes her impressions of the retreat.
Inspired by the results of the implemented initiative, young specialists won the right to continue the project in the next round of the SCLR program. They expanded the practice of psychological retreats, supplemented the existing activities with new ones (interactive meetings with leading psychologists in the "Chat" format, recording podcasts), involved both students and professional psychotherapists in the team.