The wives and mothers of defenders may not sleep in trenches, repel enemy artillery attacks, or evacuate the wounded from the battlefield, but face daily pressure from circumstances beyond their control. They endure anxiety, worry, helplessness, tension, and unresolved household issues while their loved ones risk their lives.
War is a challenge for the entire family. Military families encounter numerous difficulties every day. Currently, hundreds of thousands of women are experiencing one of the most challenging periods of their lives, managing the well-being of their children, loved ones, and relatives who require attention and support.
NGO "Public Movement 'Women's Power of Ukraine”, supported by ISAR Ednannia, has launched the Service for Psychosocial Support of Military Families Project. This initiative provided informational and psychological assistance to the families of Ukraine's defenders in 2023-2024.
The project offers women a chance to communicate with specialists, connect for mutual support, and receive tools to improve their well-being. This initiative positively impacts relationships within military families, helps manage emotional challenges, and provides guidance on handling social issues. The Psychosocial Support Service offers a crucial lifeline for those struggling to cope independently.
Diana, one of the project participants, learned to manage her strong emotions thanks to the support group: "I believe that if someone from the family is at war, the whole family is at war. People don't understand this, but women in the support group feel it. It was heartening to see women who were desperate and apathetic at the first meeting talk about how their lives had improved by the last meeting. They spoke about doing yoga, dancing, and taking care of themselves. It was like magic."
Currently, the project has achieved:
- Conducted 83 support meetings.
- Assisted 242 women, including online consultations.
Participants of the support groups describe their experience as invaluable.
“The work of psychologists is extremely important. It's worth taking advantage of whenever possible," comments Anna, who, thanks to the support group, learned to assert her boundaries and handle difficult situations.
"I was indifferent to everything and just wanted to cry. Seeing happy men on the streets and hearing stories of men who left was very painful. Couples on the street were especially hard to see. I started looking for groups on the internet, clicked on the first link, read about it, and realized this was exactly what I needed. The group was about me and for me. I filled out the form and immediately signed up for the next session," says Yevgenia, who found both support and the strength to seek it out.
"The first group meeting was quite interesting. We were asked to prepare tea and a blanket. I immediately felt comfortable. I felt like we were all one. It was easy to open up, and each of us could share as much as we wanted about ourselves. I let everything out and felt understood. I felt relieved after talking and being heard. I eagerly awaited the second meeting. During one session, we practiced anxiety reduction techniques. They seemed simple, but they worked. We also had a chat to talk and even considered meeting up later," shares Yulia, who, thanks to the support group, began to give herself permission to rest.
The Service for Psychosocial Support of Military Families continues its work. Any woman from a military family who needs counseling or emotional support can contact the hotline at 0 800 332 720 or fill out the help form on the website: https://www.pidtrymka.in.ua/.
The initiative is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity implemented by ISAR Ednannia in partnership with the Ukrainian Center of Independent Political Research (UCIPR) and Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM). The contents are not the responsibility of ISAR Ednannia and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
