Khrystyna Kurganska, founder and chief executive officer of MIRA Life, has called for Ukraine to establish a comprehensive mental health ecosystem to support war-affected citizens.
Kurganska stated that while qualified experts are desperately needed across the country, increasing staff numbers alone is insufficient. Patients often fail to receive timely support because they do not know where to go or lack faith in existing medical services.
The shortage is particularly acute among specialists trained to handle combat trauma and complex military experiences. Millions of Ukrainian service members and civilians have faced severe psychological distress since Russia launched its full scale invasion in February 2022.
Shortage of qualified trauma specialists
Combat trauma includes post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression resulting from direct exposure to battlefield conditions. Effective treatment requires specialized clinical training in trauma-informed therapy, which remains in high demand across Ukrainian healthcare facilities.
Kurganska emphasised that mental healthcare should not function as a passive network of consulting rooms where therapists wait for patients to arrive. Instead, she urged authorities to create an active structure that guides individuals to the right care at the right time.
According to Kurganska, receiving mental health treatment too late significantly reduces its effectiveness. Delayed intervention can worsen long term psychological conditions and complicate social reintegration for returning soldiers.
Building an integrated care network
The proposed ecosystem would connect psychologists and medical doctors with social workers, veteran support officers and local municipal authorities. It would also integrate employers, families, veteran associations and non-governmental organisations into a single support network.
Non-governmental organisations and community groups have played a vital role in Ukraine since 2022, providing humanitarian assistance and frontline counseling. Integrating these grassroots groups into official healthcare networks helps build public trust and improves service access.
Veteran support specialists assist former service members as they transition from military duty to civilian life. These specialists help veterans navigate government administrative procedures, access housing benefits and secure employment support.
Creating clear patient pathways
Kurganska noted that the absence of a clear route between these various agencies is currently as major a problem as the shortage of doctors. Without defined pathways, patients frequently struggle to find appropriate help across fragmented municipal and national agencies.
Establishing clear navigation routes requires structured referral protocols between primary care doctors, community social services and psychological specialists. This coordination ensures patients are directed seamlessly to specialized care based on their specific needs.
Kurganska concluded that establishing understandable navigation paths across all sectors must be Ukraine's primary priority in building long term mental health resilience.
