For Ukraine, implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the field of mental health is a matter of national survival — Denys Uliutin

This was emphasized by Denys Uliutin, Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, during his speech at the Global Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference 2025, held on October 10 in Sweden. The event was also attended by Liudmyla Shemelynets, First Deputy Minister.

“Our further actions must be based on three key priorities. The first is expertise and resources — this means training a greater number of specialists capable of providing high-quality psychosocial support. The second is accountability — establishing effective mechanisms to monitor the implementation of children’s rights and ensure the quality of services. The third is innovation — developing and introducing evidence-based, effective models of assistance that respond to today's challenges,” said Denys Uliutin.

He emphasized that the gap between the rights declared and the real availability of mental health services remains significant both globally and in Ukraine. Despite the challenges, the country is implementing a range of systemic measures to ensure accessible psychosocial support for children and families.

One of the key initiatives is the network of Resilience Centers, established as a part of the national mental health program “How Are You?”, initiated by the First Lady of Ukraine. Currently, such centers operate in 306 communities across the country. Since their launch, more than 2.5 million contacts have been recorded and 1.5 million activities with children and families have been conducted.

The Minister paid special attention to the development of early intervention services for children from birth to four years old who have developmental delays or are at risk of such delays. These services are family-centered and implemented through interagency cooperation — in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

“Currently, more than 70 early intervention teams are working in 21 regions, providing support to children in their familiar environments. The goal of this service is to give every child the best possible start in life, minimize institutionalization, and make mental health care an integral part of family upbringing,” emphasized Denys Uliutin.

He also emphasized the importance of digitalizing the child protection system. Ukraine is developing a national platform called ‘Children’, which will consolidate data on vulnerable children, including those affected by the war. This will make it possible to coordinate assistance more effectively, track needs, and ensure accountability at all levels.

“For Ukraine, making the Convention a reality in the field of mental health is not an abstract legal task — it is a matter of national survival. For the international community, it is a test of our ability to move from promises to action, from legislative declarations to real changes in the lives of children,” emphasized Denys Uliutin.

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