Representatives of TNMU Studied the Impact of Communication on the Psychological and Social Well-Being of Communities

The second session of the “Conscious Communication School,” organized by the Ukrainian-Swiss project “Medical Education Development” and held on November 20–21, 2025, focused on understanding how communication affects the psychological and social well-being of communities. The main focus was on how words shape the environment—whether supportive or toxic.

On the first day, participants, accompanied by Vakhtang Kebuladze, Professor at the Department of Theoretical and Practical Philosophy of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, engaged in discussions about the philosophical foundations of communication in a cozy atmosphere. This was connected to their homework task, which required reading several works by German philosophers.

Additionally, the organizers of the “Conscious Communication School” provided the participants with an opportunity to gain deeper insights into the importance of information hygiene and critical thinking. These topics were addressed by Oksana Moroz, founder of the initiative “How Not to Become a Vegetable,” and author and host of radio and TV programs on information hygiene. She specializes in analyzing and shaping the information environment and studies human behavior within it.

An emotional highlight of the first day was the “book club,” facilitated by Yuliia Martynenko, where each participant shared their observations and reflections on strategic thinking and how they apply this flexible skill in their lives.

The second day focused on the psychological and sociological aspects of toxic communication. During discussions, speakers and participants explored how language can inflict harm, what mechanisms fuel the spread of aggressive narratives, and how communities can counteract them.

Psychologist, psychotherapist, and co-founder of the “Laboratory of Change” psychotherapy center, Volodymyr Stanchyshyn, presented an in-depth analysis of the psychological impact of toxic communication. It is worth noting that he is the author of the bestselling books “The Walls in My Head: Living with Anxiety and Depression,” “It Takes Two for a Relationship,” and “Emotional Swings of War: A Psychotherapist’s Reflections on War.”

The sociology of toxic communication was explored in collaboration with Danylo Sudyn, a lecturer at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. His key idea emphasized that today’s world has become so complex that understanding the rules and patterns of human interaction is critically important for making conscious and responsible decisions.

Ternopil National Medical University was represented at the session by:
Oksana Sydorenko, Associate Professor of the Department of Emergency Medical Care;
Yurii Petrashyk, Associate Professor of the Department of Public Health and Healthcare Management;
Nataliia Haliash, Associate Professor of the Department of Pediatrics №3;
Nadiia Oliinyk, Associate Professor of the Department of Ukrainian Language and Head of the Communication and Marketing Department;
Iryna Borovyk, Associate Professor of the Department of Therapy and Family Rehabilitation;
Janina Chaikivska, TNMU Press Secretary;
and Yaroslav Bilyk, a fifth-year student of the Medical Faculty.