Psychologists of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have started training in crisis situations with specialists of Israel Trauma Coalition
For psychologists from the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a training course on the basics of self-help and helping a neighbor in crisis situations, conducted by specialists of the Israeli organization Israel Trauma Coalition, has begun. The training course is conducted by 30 psychologists of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This was made possible thanks to the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine Elena Zelenska and the First Lady of Israel Mikhal Herzog. The project is implemented as part of the work on the creation and implementation of the National Program for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support.
Among the specialists taking the course are representatives of the National Police, the National Guard, the State Emergency Service, the State Border Service and higher education institutions. In the future, they will scale up the knowledge gained by conducting trainings for a wide range of their colleagues. Participants are representatives of different regions of Ukraine, from Kiev to Odessa and from Lviv to Kharkov.
“Mastering the skills of self-help and helping a person who is going through a severe stressful event is paramount today for everyone working on the first line of contact. The study of the course from the Israel Trauma Coalition with the further dissemination of this knowledge and practices will contribute to strengthening the psychological resilience of the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs system, the formation of their ability to effectively cope with stress. And, of course, it will help them to provide quality assistance to people in crisis situations. For example, SNSS psychologists are among the first to arrive at the scene of terrible tragedies, working with people who have just experienced an incredibly terrible event, with those who have lost loved ones or who have just been pulled out from under the rubble. Of course, special skills are needed here, and the experience of Israeli specialists will help our psychologists to improve their qualifications in this direction,” said Elena Zelenska.
The first lady also stressed the importance and relevance of such training in wartime conditions.
During an online meeting with the participants of the exercises, which took place on August 9, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Kateryna Pavlichenko stressed that Israel has the experience and knowledge that our country needs today.
“The experience of Israeli colleagues is now critically necessary for Ukraine, because our people are going through the traumatic events that Israel has already learned to deal with professionally. It is important to restore human capital already now, because it will become our foundation during the post-war reconstruction of the country,” the Deputy Minister stressed.
Recall, the National Program of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support is an initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine Elena Zelenska, which aims to help citizens overcome the stress associated with the war and the consequences of traumatic events experienced, prevent the development of mental disorders. The development and implementation of the program is coordinated by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in close cooperation with Ukrainian and foreign specialists. The initiative is implemented with the support of the World Health Organization.
The Israel Trauma Coalition develops activities in partnership with more than 40 Israeli mental health organizations, drawing on collective knowledge, experience and expertise. Since the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion, the Israel Trauma Coalition has conducted trainings for about 2,500 Ukrainian specialists, including psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers.
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
