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Abstract
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The war in Ukraine has displaced 3.674 million internally displaced persons and half of the 6.48 million refugees being children. Nearly 2,000 children have been injured or killed, and up to 44% exhibit symptoms of PTSD, depression, or anxiety. Families face grief and hardships, while the mental health sector struggles with limited specialists and services. In 2023, Ukrainian professionals completed a fellowship in Australia focused on mental health services and trauma care. This initiative, led by Dr. Tanya Dus with STARTTS and Sydney Local Health District, was supported by the Australia Awards Fellowships. These professionals maintain active collaborations with Australian experts, including Dr. Nick Kowalenko and STARTTS specialists. Project implementation includes supervision and support for Ukrainian professionals in modernizing mental health services, development of trauma-informed digital content for public clinics, and introduction of biofeedback therapy in hospitals with training and equipment from STARTTS. Dr. Natalia Yevchenko strengthened partnerships with WAIMH and SickKids Canada and participated in the WAIMH 2024 Interim World Congress. Australian specialists contributed to the Ukrainian conference, presenting approaches to child trauma care. The project aims to develop scalable, trauma-informed services for children, expand community-based interventions, and provide education resources. International collaboration supports Ukrainian specialists in delivering high-quality mental health services. This project is vital in addressing the long-term impact of war, ensuring resilience and recovery in the face of ongoing conflict.
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