Dignity, Trust, Support: The Future of the Mental Health System Discussed at the Launch of Leaders for Mental Health 2.0

In Kyiv, the educational program "Leaders for Mental Health 2.0" has begun, uniting administrators, medical professionals, educators, and the civil sector around a common goal – building a human-centered mental health system in communities.

The opening of the program and the panel discussion "The Future of Mental Health in Ukraine: What System Are We Building?" featured Iryna Postolovska, Deputy Minister of Social Policy for European Integration. Participants discussed the future of the mental health support system over the next 10 years, as well as pathways for cross-sectoral collaboration in this field – between ministries, government bodies, and communities.

At the heart of the discussion were the changes that need to be implemented now and the role of dignity and trust as key values in this transformation.

Iryna Postolovska shared the practical experience of the Ministry of Social Policy in implementing an experimental project – Resilience Centers, which are already operating in 228 communities across the country. She emphasized that these spaces help establish a new model of social services focused on dignity, trust, and partnership.

"We are investing significant resources, technical assistance, and attention not only to provide professionals at Resilience Centers with expert knowledge but also to build a supportive community. Together with international partners, we are working on both the content of training programs and communication approaches – how to engage ethically and appropriately with people who have diverse life experiences," noted the Deputy Minister.

The Resilience Centers serve as an example of how cross-sectoral collaboration can transform approaches to psychosocial support at the community level, moving from formal responses to daily, person-centered presence.

Oksana Zbitnieva, Head of the Coordination Center for Mental Health under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, stressed that Ukraine already has a unique advantage – political leadership in mental health:

"This allows us to integrate mental health into all sectors, all fields, and all policies. Today, to make mechanisms like routing, redirection, and needs assessment work, we need to learn to operate within a culture of cross-sectoral collaboration."

The "Leaders for Mental Health 2.0" program is implemented by the One Health agency and the Business School of the Ukrainian Catholic University as part of the "Mental Health for Ukraine (MH4U)" project, with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Policy, and the National Health Service of Ukraine.

Tags: