Mental Health Support: New Initiatives in Odesa
On October 16, 2025, a workshop titled “Mental Wellbeing — A Resource for Life” was held in Odesa. This event was organized with the assistance of the Odesa City Health Department and the Family Medicine Association, in celebration of World Mental Health Day.
This year, over 35,000 services related to mental health and psychological support were provided in Odesa's medical facilities for adults and children, including internally displaced persons and military personnel.
There are 16 psychological counseling offices operating in the city. Additionally, two integrated response centers have been established based on the Primary Healthcare Centers in the Kyiv and Peresyp districts. These centers employ interdisciplinary teams consisting of coordinators, psychologists, social workers, and legal advisors. The integrated centers provide comprehensive support to individuals in crisis, particularly those affected by war or gender-based violence.
A notable mention is the Mental Health Center established at City Clinical Hospital No. 10. This center serves as a key facility for specialized assistance, where patients can receive psychological consultations, medical-psychiatric support, and rehabilitation services.
Another Mental Health Center will be opened at Clinical Hospital No. 1 under a cooperation agreement with the French Development Agency (AFD). Currently, renovation work is ongoing at the Jewish Hospital facility.
Psychological assistance in Odesa's medical institutions is offered as part of the nationwide mental health program “How Are You?” and is available free of charge to all interested individuals.
The City Health Department places special emphasis on the mental well-being and emotional state of healthcare workers, organizing training sessions to prevent professional burnout and providing opportunities for individual consultations and support groups.
