Teachers of TNMU Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology Participated in International Project in the Republic of Latvia

On December 9-17, 2023, the Head of TNMU Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology, Professor Olena Venger and Assistant Professor of the Department Tetiana Ivanitska paid a working visit to the Republic of Latvia under the program of supporting the mental health of Ukrainians.

During the week, 45 Ukrainian psychologists and 20 Latvian psychologists were trained under the Israeli program “Early Starters International”. At the same time, representatives of leading Ukrainian universities – Ternopil National Medical University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of education content modernization of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Borys Hrinchenko Kyiv University – conducted training for Latvian colleagues: school directors and school psychologists.

The event was opened by: Indrikis Muijnieks – Rector of the University of Latvia, Karina Ploka – Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia, Artjoms Ursulskis – Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Latvia, Nelliya Repina – Advisor to the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia, Anatolii Kutsevol – Ambassador of Ukraine in Latvia, Miks Duburs – board member of Fond – Biedrība “TEV”, Mariia Petrova-Matsiuk – Head of the All-Ukrainian League of Ukrainian Women.

One of the working areas during the visit was the exchange of experience in the rehabilitation of military personnel. On December 12, practicing psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and psychotherapists of Ukraine and Latvia worked together on a common goal – to help our Ukrainian defenders. As part of this exchange of experience, a large-scale panel discussion was held on the topic “Mental health of Ukrainians during the Russian invasion of Ukraine”, during which the following topics were covered:

– “Problems in the field of providing psychological services to military personnel” – Andrii Poltavtsev (online) – clinical psychologist, “Lisova Poliana” Mental Health and Rehabilitation Centre of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

– “Problems of mental health of military personnel” – Olena Wenger – Psychiatrist, DSc, Professor, Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology of TNMU and Volodymyr Koptiukh (online) – Head of the battalion’s medical service, senior lieutenant of the medical service.

– “Resilience and post-traumatic growth” – Tetiana Ivanitska – psychiatrist, psychotherapist, Assistant Professor of the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology of TNMU and Taras Diachun (online) – veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, manager, Deputy of the Ternopil Regional Council.

On December 13-14, the continuation of the cooperation of Ukrainian and Latvian specialists within the framework of the project “Happy family – successful country” took place in the format of trainings for directors of Latvian schools, social educators and school psychologists at the University of Latvia.

The welcome speeches were delivered by Iryna Mykychak – adviser to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, coordination director of the Coordination Centre of the CMU / Mental Health UA, Mykhaylo Korda – DSc, Professor, Rector of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University and Raitis Bullits – co-founder of the NGO “Angels for Ukraine”.

During this project, Olena Venger conducted a training on the topic “Stress and psychological trauma in children” and a workshop “Techniques of relief during stress”. Tetiana Ivanitska organized a mini-intensive “Art therapy when working with psychological trauma” and a workshop on biosuggestive therapy.

The participants noted the similarity of educational issues in Ukraine and Latvia. They noted the thoroughness of the research conducted in Ukraine and the value of information exchange. They expressed a strong desire for further cooperation and discussion of specific proposals.

Moreover, during the event, an exhibition of children’s paintings “War through the eyes of children. Dreams and fears” in memory of Mykola Mialkovskyi was held. About 30 works created under the supervision of Tetiana Mialkovska, within the framework of recreation and rehabilitation programs for children from the front, near-front and de-occupied territories of Ukraine, were at the University of Latvia for 7 days. These are children who lost their parents, relatives and childhood. Mykola Mialkovskyi was only 28, he worked in the Lublin City Hall, and since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he came and stood up for the defence of Ukraine. This exhibition is in memory of him and everyone who lost their lives for the sake of a happy future for our children.

The event was held on the initiative of the All-Ukrainian League of Ukrainian Women and the “Happy Family – Successful Country” project, with the support of Biedrība “TEV”, “Angels for Ukraine”, Izglītības un sūtių ministrija and Latvijas Universitatea.

New knowledge and experience, effective work technologies, inspiration from cooperation – we take all this with us to Ukraine, to bring victory closer!