The Colors of My Summer: Art Therapy Session for Students, Patients of Ternopil Neuropsychiatric Hospital, and Military Personnel

On May 28, 2025, staff of the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology, and Medical Psychology, together with psychiatry interns, held an event as part of the Mental Health Awareness Month and the national “How are you?” mental health program, initiated by Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska.

As summer approaches and hearts long for light and rest, a heartfelt art therapy session, “The Colors of My Summer”, took place at Ternopil National Medical University — a space for healing, creativity, and mutual support.

This event was designed for students, patients of the neuropsychiatric hospital, and military personnel, all of whom face significant daily challenges. Through paint, symbols, and images, participants were invited to:

• Express emotions — even those difficult to put into words;
• Restore internal balance after emotional hardship;
• Share their personal story of summer — what peace, sunshine, color, hope, and dreams mean to them.

Art therapy is not only a form of creative expression but also a powerful tool for psychological healing.

In a safe environment, under the guidance of experienced psychologists and art therapists, participants explored their emotional states, created personal symbolic drawings of summer, and discussed what inspires and sustains them.

The participation of military patients was especially moving — with great courage, they shared their stories and demonstrated how deeply art can touch the human heart.

The event took place in an atmosphere of trust, calm, and light — the very “colors” we all need so much right now. One participant shared:
“While painting, I remembered — for the first time in a long while — what summer can feel like not just on the calendar, but in the soul. Thank you for that.”