On May 25, 9:30–11 a.m. EDT the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) and URC hosted a conversation on the impact of the war on Ukraine’s healthcare infrastructure, First Lady Zelenska’s continued efforts to promote mental health, and the role that mental health will play in Ukraine’s reconstruction, with keynote remarks provided by Ukraine Ambassador Oksana Markarova.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 9.6 million Ukrainians will experience mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Efforts to address this challenge have been hampered by the Soviet legacy of Ukraine’s highly centralized healthcare system, the impact of the pandemic, and the ongoing war. First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska highlighted the war’s toll on mental health during her address to the 75th World Health Assembly. She has also been active in promoting mental health and the reduction of stigma surrounding mental health issues in Ukraine, most notably by launching the National Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programme, which focuses on helping Ukrainians to deal with war-related stress and the effects of experiencing traumatic events.
Over 1,000 people joined us, both online or in-person.
