Children in Ukraine are growing up in the middle of a war that has no clear end. Many have lost a parent. Many have been displaced from their homes. Many fall asleep at night and return, in their dreams, to what they have already lived through. Nearly 1 in 3 Ukrainian adolescents shows signs of moderate or severe depression - and the need for mental health support far outpaces what is currently available. This July, War Survivors Institute is going to Ukraine. Our team will join children at a te
War-affected children in Ukraine carry invisible wounds - nightmares, grief, fear, that go unaddressed because trained professionals and screening tools are simply not reaching them. Without early identification and support, trauma shapes everything: how children sleep, learn, and trust. This project brings direct trauma screening and practitioner training to a rehabilitation camp in Ukraine, ensuring children are seen and local psychologists are equipped to help.
This July, our team travels to a ten-day rehabilitation camp in Ukraine to screen war-affected children for trauma using a clinically validated tool, and to train local psychologists in Imagery Rehearsal Therapy - an evidence-based method that helps children overcome nightmares and begin to heal. Every psychologist trained carries these tools forward long after the camp ends.
WSI builds lasting local capacity by training Ukrainian practitioners through hands-on mentorship and co-facilitation. Partnerships with Children of Heroes Charity Fund and Re:Creators embed trauma-informed care into existing community structures. Early data confirms measurable healing - RHS-15 scores dropping from 24 to 20. Every trained practitioner becomes a multiplier, reaching new children for years to come.
