On May 29, within the framework of the USAID «Public Health System Recovery and Resilience Activity» project, we began training mental health service providers from focal communities and partner organizations on the CETA program (The Common Elements Treatment Approach).
During a ten-day intensive training with trainers from the Mental Health Center of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, participants will acquire skills in providing psychological support to people with significant post-traumatic stress symptoms, addictions, anxiety, and depressive states.
20 specialists will undergo training in May-June, another group of 20 specialists – in July. Then they will be able to provide targeted services based on cognitive-behavioral therapy directly in communities – for example, at local social service centers, on the basis of community organizations, etc.
The training is only the first stage of a comprehensive nine-month training course, which will include practical work of new CETA program providers and their comprehensive support in the form of supervision from specialists of the National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” and experience exchange meetings in the form of a “community of practitioners”.
СЕТА is a psychological assistance program aimed at the needs of veterans and their families, which was developed by mental health researchers at Johns Hopkins University (USA). In Ukraine, the project is implemented by Johns Hopkins University in cooperation with the Mental Health Center of NaUKMA and the NGO “Words Help”. Currently, CETA is effectively used for dealing with the consequences of trauma, depression, substance abuse, and anxiety by specialists around the world. For Ukraine, the program was adapted to meet the needs of Ukrainian veterans, displaced persons, and volunteers. All program methodologies are carefully studied and repeatedly tested.