Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska chaired an expanded meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council on Mental Health and Psychological Assistance to Victims of russia’s Armed Aggression against Ukraine.

The Head of Government noted that exactly one year ago, the members of the Coordination Council met for the first time in such a composition and created an effective platform for generating, discussing and making effective decisions in the field of mental health care.

“In the process of working on the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme, we realised the enormous scope and importance of this issue. Eliminating challenges and risks in the field of mental health care is of strategic importance for the state. A lot has already been done within the framework of the programme. I thank everyone for their work,” said Denys Shmyhal.

“Our meeting today coincides with a difficult date. We have many such dates now. A year ago today, russia shelled the centre of Vinnytsia, killing 29 people, patients and staff of a local clinic, including a little girl, Liza, a child with Down’s syndrome. As I said, I knew her because we had appeared together in a video with children. This is just one of the terrible stories of loss and bereavement that have taken place during the war. Let’s be aware that we are here to answer this difficult question: how to go on living? To Lisa’s mother, to all the parents who have lost their children, and to all the children who have lost their parents. And to the families who, on top of the war, have a difficult diagnosis in their family. And we have to answer how to deal with the experience of wounds, losses and captivity for the defenders and their families,” said Olena Zelenska.

The Prime Minister noted that following the discussion in the Interagency Coordination Council, a package of further effective management decisions had been formed, which the Government would implement together with ministries and line ministers.