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26/07/2024
The Role of ‘Crisis Psychological Assistance’ in Support to Overcome Grief

We encounter widows who have lost their homes twice, and now mourn the loss of their husbands. They are displaced and in dire need of assistance. Although theoretically, grief counseling should commence four months post-tragedy, I cannot turn away those who seek help earlier, Olena Shylova, a psychologist at the Civil Society Organization Crisis Psychological Assistance of Dnipro City and Dnipropetrovsk Region (CPA), shares.

 

A Novel Approach

The CPA was established in 2014 as a volunteer initiative, bringing together five psychologists. Today, the organization boasts about 100 specialists. The expertise of our psychologists is crucial in preventing further trauma for those grappling with loss, Kateryna Chyzhyk, the project manager, states.  The organization also fosters the professional growth of each specialist and encourages the development of unique methodologies.

At present, the CPA offers psychological support to adults and adolescents as part of its authorial programs for internally displaced persons, families of military personnel, and the widows of fallen Heroes of Ukraine. At times, during an air raid, widows attending a group consultation express indifference towards seeking shelter. They say they do not care. Despite their pain, they find solace in this community and the shared discussions, Olena Shylova, a seasoned psychologist with two decades of experience, reveals.

The CPA team not only provides individual counseling to those dealing with loss but also offers training and consultations to public organizations. Currently, we are preparing to sign a Memorandum with the National Police, addressing their need for educational services in two areas: shock management for victims and psychological relief for police officers. One of the CPA’s psychologists, accredited by the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC), will soon launch an educational program in Dnipro to teach non-psychologists how to respond to shock and crisis situations. This program, developed in collaboration with the ITC, will also provide participants with certificates upon completion.

However, Olena Shylova notes that while there is much to learn from Israeli specialists, the context is different, and the organization varies: We, psychologists in Dnipro and the region, operate on an unseen battlefront. Our standards and norms differ due to the unique circumstances. While we maintain professional boundaries with our clients, there are instances when I accompany them to the morgue for identification or attend their husbands’ funerals if their relatives are in the occupied territory and cannot come.

 

Burnout Prevention

Elena Shylova works nearly seven days a week. She admits that after a decade in this field, she has adapted to the workload. However, the years 2014-2015 highlighted the risk of burnout among psychologists, underscoring the importance of self-care.

With the rapid pace of work and expansion, the team needed support, which they received through the Capable and Strong project, implemented by East Europe Foundation with financial support from Switzerland. This support enabled the activists to streamline internal processes, systematize their skills, and chart their course.

Currently, the CPA hosts two supervision groups – online and offline – open to specialists from other organizations. Project manager Kateryna Chyzhyk notes the popularity of offline meetings, as everyone craves face-to-face interaction now. To cater to this need and provide stress relief, the CPA organizes informal events. For instance, the organization hosted a Volunteer Dvizh in Dnipro recently. The activists could unwind with board games and socialize, and take a break from their daily work. Additionally, the organization offers gym memberships to its psychologists to promote physical health.

 

Collaboration Over Competition

 May was a bustling month at the CPA, with 21 events in Dnipro and seven offsite events, engaging about 300 people and 26 organizations. This growth was made possible by the newly opened psychological space ProZYTY in coalition with the CSO SpilnoTY and the charity foundation Save peace in UA.

The creation and decision-making process at ProZYTY exemplifies how three distinct organizations chose collaboration over competition, strengthening each other for mutual and individual growth of each organization involved in co-creation. Kateryna Chyzhyk reflects, Over the past decade, we’ve often discussed with our partners the need for a dedicated space to launch our full-scale activities.  Now, we have the opportunity to not only establish a safe psychological environment, but also a coworking space for 25 CSOs, aimed at enhancing their capacity.

This material was developed in partnership with East Europe Foundation, with support from Switzerland for prostir.ua