"We believe that investing in the mental well-being of young people is the most important investment in the recovery and prosperity of our country." Natalia Lukyanova, кproject coordinator "Mind the Future"
The NGO "Social Initiatives for Occupational Health and Safety" (LHSI) is proud to announce the launch of a large-scale three-year project "Think about the future: empowering Ukraine's youth through innovative solutions in the field of mental health"This initiative, implemented with the support of the International Business Agency of the Netherlands Government (UPF2), is a response to the urgent needs of Ukrainian youth affected by war and forced displacement.
The project focuses on the mental well-being and resilience of young people aged 12 to 26. Our goal is not only to provide access to quality services, but also to promote their active involvement in the country's recovery processes.
Innovations that change the approach
“Think about the Future” is not just another support program. It is an innovative approach that combines advanced technologies and mobility for maximum efficiency. The project includes two key innovations:
- VR mental health support: For the first time in Ukraine, we are adapting successful Dutch practices to use virtual reality technology to provide short-term, immersive psychosocial support. VR therapy allows you to work with anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic conditions in a safe and controlled environment. Our trainers are already undergoing training to provide these services in Kyiv, Vinnytsia, and Odessa.
- Mobile consultation points: To make help available even in the most remote corners, we are launching mobile units. These mobile units will provide both preventive and corrective services directly in schools, clinics, and communities. This will allow us to reach young people who are unable to get to stationary centers.
Our mission and expected results
The project’s goal is to make a significant contribution to the reconstruction of Ukraine by strengthening its economy and society through increasing the resilience of its youth. By 2028, we plan to achieve impressive results:
- 6300 young people will receive support using VR technologies.
- 6000 children and youth will be covered by the services of mobile consultation points.
- 50 local trainers (including 8 master trainers) will learn how to provide quality services using VR.
- 120 MHPSS professionals and 350 Community leaders will receive training and education.
These numbers reflect our commitment to creating a sustainable, innovative, and accessible mental health support system for Ukrainian youth.
Team and partners
LHSI is the only Ukrainian project implementer, which allows us to use our over 20 years of experience in the field of health care and youth potential development. Established partnerships with 75 cities and communities, as well as cooperation with over 30 social service centers, are the key to success.
We work in close cooperation with international partners:
- ICDI (Netherlands) – chief coordinator
- The Changing Room (Netherlands) – VR technology experts
- PRO-FIL (Poland) – partners in implementing the mobile point model and cross-border exchange.
Our Ukrainian partners — the Service for Children and Families of the Kyiv City State Administration, the Vinnytsia Regional Center for Social Services, and the Odessa Branch of the Fund for Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities — play a key role in the implementation of the project on the ground.
"This is a unique opportunity not only to provide help here and now, but also to lay the foundation for a sustainable, modern mental health support system for future generations," — notes Natalia Lukyanova, project coordinator. "We believe that investing in the mental well-being of young people is the most important investment in the recovery and prosperity of our country."