On April 4, 2024, Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design hosted an educational and preventive event “MENTAL HEALTH. TECHNIQUES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RECOVERY” in the context of the National Program of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, developed with the support of WHO as part of the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska.

The event was organized by the Center for Psychological Support of KNUTD and the Department of Professional Education in Technology and Design for all participants in the educational process. The meeting was attended by higher education students, teachers from various faculties and institutes of the University.

Its purpose was to prevent mental health and harmonize the inner world of the participants in the educational process, to develop their self-awareness, self-reflection and self-analysis as necessary components of psychological well-being.

The event was hosted by Rymma Kyrychenko, head of the KNUTD Psychological Support Center, PhD in Psychology, and Alla KolodIazhna, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor of the Department of Professional Education in Technology and Design.

The priority task of the Center for Psychological Support in Times of War is to ensure the psychological stability of participants in the educational process. Rymma Viktorivna, Head of the KNUTD Psychological Support Center, invited the participants to discuss the most important issues of maintaining their mental health during the war, the ability to control their mental state and readiness to cope with dangerous situations.

The participants of the event got acquainted with the project “Tell me honestly, are you okay?” developed with the support of WHO as part of the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska to create a National Program of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support. We watched the videos “What is stress and why is it needed?” and “How to support yourself – the practice of gratitude”. The main idea of this project is to create a culture of caring for one’s own mental health, to show that it is not at all a shame to talk about your inner self, on the contrary, it is of great importance in the fight against stress.

Rymma Kirichenko spoke about the criteria of mental health and the factors that determine one’s psychological stress resistance. She paid special attention to practical methods of self-regulation of the psycho-emotional state, which are self-help tools in stressful situations. The main ones are conscious breathing techniques, neuromuscular relaxation and the method of guided thoughts.

The event discussed the issue of stress as a part of our lives that protects us from threats from the world around us, as a survival mechanism that makes us respond to threats. Stress can become chronic, which negatively affects health and well-being. Rymma Viktorivna and Alla Volodymyrivna shared exercises, techniques and tips on coping with stress with the teachers, staff and students.

Rimma Viktorivna offered simple and effective techniques that allow us to start the process of self-regulation through the coordinated interaction of our brain with the body and emotions at the level of sensations, namely the techniques “Grounding”, “Letting go of the hook”, “Acting in accordance with our own values”, “Square breathing”, “Butterfly” exercise, etc. These exercises are universal and can be performed for self-help at home or at work, during curfews or in a bomb shelter. To strengthen the nervous system and ensure one’s stress resistance, the psychologist recommended doing the exercises every day.

Alla Volodymyrivna offered the participants to determine the levels of stress, morale and exhaustion using a test designed to monitor the psychological state of a person. She also provided practical recommendations on first aid in stressful situations, introduced the exercises “Circle of Support”, “Letter to the Future”, “Writing Practice” to maintain and improve mental health. At the end of the event, the participants completed the exercise “You are the Light” to improve their own psychological state.

The educational and preventive event “MENTAL HEALTH. TECHNIQUES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RECOVERY” became a new experience and significant psycho-emotional support for its participants. Everything will be Ukraine!

09.04.2024