The network of Resilience Centres is expanding: 54 more communities have joined the project of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine. This means that in the near future, these communities will have barrier-free spaces where everyone will have access to professional psychosocial support.

In total, the project now involves 308 communities in 23 regions of Ukraine. Of these, 230 have already opened Resilience Centres. Most of the new spaces will soon appear in Volyn region (in 22 communities), as well as in Ternopil and Cherkasy regions. This will allow even more Ukrainians to receive quality support in their communities.

"The resilience of our communities is not only about physical safety, but also about the inner strength of the people who live in them. Resilience Centres help communities become a pillar of support for their residents by creating a space of support, trust and psychological recovery. We can see a great demand for these services, so we are expanding the network so that as many Ukrainians as possible have access to quality psychosocial assistance in their communities," said Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine.

At the Resilience Centres, people can receive individual counselling or join group sessions, trainings or mutual support programmes. They are open to anyone who needs help overcoming stress and restoring emotional resources. Most often, relatives of military personnel, internally displaced persons, and anyone who has faced life challenges come here.

It should be mentioned that communities that open Resilience Centres for their residents must provide premises that meet the principles of accessibility and barrier-free access. To help communities, the Ministry of Social Policy, together with the project partners, has developed a Guide for the arrangement of such spaces, which is available for free.

The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine within the framework of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme "How Are You?" initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska.