Amid Russia's full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian people are facing pressing mental health needs. A January 2024 survey found that 77 per cent of Ukrainians reported stress or severe nervousness recently (Gradus, 2024). The World Health Organisation estimates that 22 per cent of individuals impacted by conflict experience a mental health disorder (Charlson et al. The Lancet 2019; 394 10194). The current system relies on inpatient psychiatric hospitals with limited community-level access points. Another major shift is the expansion of community mental health multidisciplinary mobile teams that treat severe to moderate disorders at the community level. There is also a market for private mental health practices.
A holistic approach is essential to address these challenges. A well-trained and competent mental health workforce, providing care at multiple levels, is essential for delivering effective services that enable Ukrainians to fully recover and participate in social and economic growth. The role of the Ukrainian Catholic University extends beyond academics, aiming to serve the people of Ukraine by equipping the new generation with the skills to meet modern challenges, particularly in post-war reconstruction and development. UCU's commitment to health initiatives is reflected in various degree programs and non-degree initiatives. In addition to training, UCU Faculty of Health Sciences provides mental health services to the university and city community.
Our interest is in developing and implementing a model of interdisciplinary training on mental health. At our faculty, this model could be applied to the education of students in physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, and social work. Over the past few years, significant progress has been made at the legislative level in Ukraine to implement the concept of interdisciplinarity in practice, both within the education system and in community services. The next step - to make this strategic approach an achievement for university interdisciplinary education as well.