Successful Offline Training Session on First Psychological Aid Go On!

The Lifelong Learning Centre successfully conducted an engaging offline training session on September 21, 2024, titled “Psychological Support During Explosions: How to Help Yourself and Others.” This practical, hands-on training was designed for educators, medical workers, social service employees, government officials, and anyone keen on mastering the skills of first psychological aid in crisis situations.

The session was part of our ongoing project “Strength of Spirit: Comprehensive Psychological Support for Veterans and Their Families in the Sumy Region,” managed in cooperation with ISAR Unity and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with financial backing from the European Union and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the “EU4Recovery – Strengthening Community Capacities in Ukraine” initiative.

Our expert trainers, Galyna Dmytrenko, a crisis psychologist at the Sumy Regional Clinical War Veterans Hospital, and Victoria Sukhareva, a doctor-psychiatrist and psychotherapist working at the same facility, led the six-hour session. They focused on identifying crisis situations, principles of responsible aid, self-regulation, and stress management techniques.

Participants also had the opportunity to practice these skills actively, ensuring they could apply the knowledge in real-world scenarios. The training, which included a comfortable environment for relaxation techniques and maintained strict confidentiality and ethical standards, was completed with each attendee receiving a certification that counts towards professional development credits.

This session proved to be an immense success, demonstrating the Lifelong Learning Centre’s commitment to providing cutting-edge, supportive education that meets the needs of our community even in challenging times. With facilities prepared for emergencies, including shelters for air raid situations, we ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for all participants.

We are grateful for the unwavering support of our trainers, participants, and donors, and look forward to continuing to offer such valuable training sessions to strengthen the resilience and psychological readiness of our community in Sumy.