Photo: Lina Trochez | Unsplash
A system of remote mental health support for Ukrainians may be a blueprint for how mental health support services can be delivered worldwide — not just in war zones, but to address the gaps in access to care due to lack of resources and finances. Medical student Solomiia Savchuk and members of Stanford University’s Ukrainian Students Association created a global network of providers, interpreters and volunteers that has grown into a free, worldwide virtual health service that any Ukrainian with an internet-connected device can access. Nearly 16 months on, it has facilitated over 1,400 virtual consultations, 800 of them related to mental health issues. Ironically, the war may ultimately help catalyze a broader positive shift toward mental health. Savchuk has seen bookings steadily increase. “You see how life does go on, and you can improve and grow, even as you’re helping your country fight a war that we didn’t start and didn’t want.” TeleHelp Ukraine is part of a wider campaign to promote a culture of caring for mental health in society, with Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, at the forefront.
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