On October 7, on the eve of World Mental Health Day, the PHS R&R held an open ECHO session on “Self-harm – what is it? Peculiarities of working with young people who have had self-harming experiences”.
An expert was Alina Kobets, a psychiatrist, trainer on the prevention of suicide and self-harming behavior of young people in communities, certified trainer under the WHO mhGAP program.
About 370 people from 17 regions of Ukraine joined the ECHO session, including medical workers (doctors and nurses), representatives and specialists of the “Take Care of Myself” spaces network, social workers, psychologists and representatives of the RCDC.
The purpose of the session was to raise awareness of the causes, manifestations and consequences of self-harm, as well as to familiarize professionals with tools for effective psychological assistance and support for those who have faced the problem of self-harm.
During the session, speakers focused on the psychosocial factors that contribute to self-harming behavior, as well as the psychosocial challenges faced by adolescents, particularly in times of war and constant stress. The participants also discussed how each of them can contribute to supporting young people, helping to avoid the serious consequences of self-harming behavior and creating a safe environment for the emotional and psychological development of the younger generation.