TNMU Students Delivered Lectures for Ternopil School Students on Mental Health and Information Safety

In May, students of Ternopil National Medical University, Daryna Yuziuk (MM-516) and Andrii Svirzhevskyi (MM-417), organized educational lectures for students of Secondary Schools No. 20 and No. 23 on the topic “Mental Health and Information Safety: What Every Teen Should Know.”

The event aimed to raise awareness among schoolchildren about the impact of social media, online games, and the digital environment on mental health. In an accessible format, the students explained the importance of emotional self-awareness, mechanisms of stress and gadget addiction, as well as the dangers that may lurk in the virtual space—such as “death games” and online blackmail.

Special attention was given to the topic of “red flags” — phrases and actions that may indicate manipulation or psychological pressure from malicious actors. The students actively participated in an interactive game, analyzing situations and learning to distinguish toxic from supportive messages.

Advice was also provided on maintaining mental balance in the digital environment: limiting time on social networks, supporting real-life relationships, breathing exercises, and the importance of seeking help from parents, teachers, or psychologists when necessary.

The meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Students expressed their gratitude for the meaningful and useful information, while teachers noted the importance of such initiatives in today’s reality.

We thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine and teachers Oksana Sobchuk and Lidiia Shavrina for providing the opportunity to conduct educational events on preserving students’ mental health and safety in the information space.