Resilience Centres Mark 18 Months: Over 1.5 Million Visits and 850,000 Activities Delivered

Resilience Centres are now operating in 225 communities across 23 regions of Ukraine. Since their launch, these psychosocial support spaces have become an integral part of community life. With more than 1.5 million visits and over 850,000 activities conducted, it is clear that more and more Ukrainians are reaching out for professional help. Ukraine’s Minister of Social Policy, Oksana Zholnovych, shared the outcomes and future plans for the Centres during a recent appearance on the national TV marathon.

“Resilience Centres are not ‘offices with queues’. They are open, welcoming spaces where anyone can access professional help. They represent a new infrastructure of compassion that is already serving communities across the country,” the Minister stated.

About the Pilot Initiative

The Centres operate within a pilot initiative launched by the Ministry in 2023, as part of the First Lady Olena Zelenska’s All-Ukrainian mental health program “How are you?”. The initiative was formalised by a Cabinet resolution and extended until October 2025.

The Centres aim to provide timely support to help individuals:

• maintain their mental health,
• reduce anxiety,
• build resilience,
• find stability after loss, separation, military service or evacuation,
• and support stress-free parenting and mutual aid communities.

Who They Support — and Who Provides the Support

Resilience Centres are open to all: military and civilians, children and the elderly, families who have lost their homes, and those returning from the front lines. No referrals or appointments are required — people can simply come when they feel the need for support.

“We’re seeing a strong demand for this service. An additional 54 communities have already joined the project, with around 40 more expected. Our goal is for every person in Ukraine to know that support is nearby — and that it’s here to stay,” Zholnovych emphasised.

A key feature of the initiative is the systemic involvement of civil society — a first for a state-run service of this kind. More than 150 NGOs and charitable organisations across the country have become official providers of resilience service, assembling teams that include social workers, psychologists and social managers. Over 1,000 specialists are currently undergoing training under the WHO’s Self-Help+ program and UNICEF’s Parenting Without Stress initiative.

In total, 285 communities are participating in the project, including some that have relocated from temporarily occupied territories. Services are also being provided independently or via charitable contributions in seven additional regions.

The Ministry plans to integrate Resilience Centres into Ukraine’s national system of social services on a permanent basis.

Watch the full broadcast (in Ukrainian): https://youtu.be/Fm2BSnnCLwI?si=-wnJNwfoB854BwbY

Learn more about the Resilience Centres on the website of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine: https://www.msp.gov.ua/en/about/klyuchovi-napryamy/zhyttyestiykist

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