How does it work?

The programme is based on the creation of a network of District Psychosocial Support Centres, which offer comprehensive assistance – including psychological, psychiatric, social, legal, and rehabilitative services – close to where people live.
Beneficiaries include veterans, soldiers and their families, internally displaced persons, uniformed service personnel, and civilians affected by the war.

Why small centres?

The programme is built around the idea of setting up small centres in smaller towns and rural areas, which significantly improves access to services.
In Ukraine, most large psychosocial and rehabilitation centres are concentrated in big cities. People returning to their home communities – especially veterans – often lack access to continued care and therapy near home. NGOs providing support also tend to operate primarily in urban areas.

Small centres ensure continuity of care, proximity to beneficiaries, and help reduce the stigma associated with seeking psychosocial support.

Cross-sectoral approach and local ownership

The programme stands out due to:

• a cross-sectoral approach – it brings together professionals from different fields and allows integration into national programmes;
• a strong network of cooperation – the centres operate in close coordination with local and regional institutions, enabling effective referrals and tailored support;
• anti-stigma efforts – it promotes a positive attitude towards mental health and social reintegration.

Where do we work and whom do we support?

So far, the programme has been implemented in Rivne and Zhytomyr oblasts, where eight centres have been established.
Each centre serves around 160 people per month, which means an average of 8 people per day (assuming 20 working days).
Between January 2024 and May 2025, the centres provided support to over 11,000 individuals.

Currently, the programme is being rolled out in two additional regions – Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa oblasts – where four more centres will be established in each.

Beneficiaries include:

• 50.3% – other civilians
• 23.4% – family members of veterans and soldiers (including families of fallen soldiers)
• 15.4% – combatants and veterans
• 7.6% – internally displaced persons (IDPs)
• 3.4% – security service personnel

The highest demand is for psychological services, followed by physiotherapy, social work support, career counselling, and legal assistance.

Resources and institutional recognition

As part of the programme:

• training modules have been developed for psychologists, social workers, and managerial staff;
• an implementation manual has been prepared, outlining the principles for establishing and running the centres.

The programme has been officially endorsed by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine as part of social sector reform, and it is recognised as a "Human Capital" component of the Ukraine Plan – under the EU Ukraine Facility.

The programme is implemented as part of development cooperation financed by Polish Aid (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland), the European Union, and the United States Department of State.

The long-term goal is to scale the model to cover the entire territory of Ukraine by 2030.