Mind the Future: Empowering Ukraine’s Youth with Innovative Mental Health Solutions

LHSI is proud to be the National Implementer of the three-year project “Mind the Future,” supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency through Ukraine Partnership Facility 2 (UPF2). This initiative is part of a broader reconstruction and recovery effort in Ukraine, focusing on the mental well-being and resilience of youth affected by war and displacement.

Project Goal

The purpose of the project is to contribute to resilience in Ukraine and the sustainable recovery of its economy and society, by promoting the resilience of Ukrainian youth and by empowering them to become active in the socioeconomic reconstruction of their country.

The project’s approach to realize this purpose will be to enhance the effectiveness and reach of local mental health services for vulnerable youth in Ukraine affected by the ongoing war.

Objectives

• Enhance the availability, accessibility, and quality of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services for youth aged 12–26.

• Train and support local MHPSS providers, educators, and community leaders in delivering youth-centered mental health services.

• Foster local and cross-border collaboration in innovative mental health programming and community well-being.

Key Innovations

1. VR-Based Mental Health Support:

A first-of-its-kind in Ukraine, this intervention uses Virtual Reality to deliver short-term, immersive psychosocial support to young people. Adapted from successful Dutch practices, LHSI supports the training of local and master coaches to deliver VR-based therapy in Kyiv, Vinnytsia, and Odesa.

2. Mobile MHPSS Units:

LHSI coordinates Mobile Mental Health Units offering both preventive and corrective care. These outreach units travel to remote communities, schools, and clinics, bringing services directly to youth and engaging families and educators in awareness-building.

Where We Work

• On-site and online  services: Kyiv city, Vinnytsia Oblast, Odesa Oblast

Expected Results

By 2028 the project aims to:

• Reach 6,300 youth through VR-based MHPSS

• Provide 6,000 youth with Mobile MHPSS services

• Train 50 local coaches (8 as master coaches) to deliver VR-MHPSS

• Support 120 MHPSS professionals and engage 350 community leaders through workshops and education

LHSI’s Role

As the exclusive Ukrainian implementer, LHSI leads the adaptation and roll-out of all project innovations, leveraging:

- Over 20 years of experience in health, child protection, and youth empowerment

- Established partnerships across 75 municipalities and 30 community centers

- A trained national team of social workers, psychologists, and health professionals

LHSI also facilitates integration of project tools into national systems and promotes long-term sustainability through partnerships with local authorities and service providers.

Project Partners

• ICDI (NL) – Lead Partner & Project Coordinator

• De Veranderkamer (NL) – VR Technology & Training

• PRO-FIL (PL) – Mobile MHPSS Model & Cross-Border Exchange

Project Partners in Ukraine

Child Protection and Family Service of the Kyiv City Council

Vinnytsia oblast center of social services

Odesa department of State Fund for Social Protection of People with Disabilities

The Ukraine Partnership Facility (UPF) funds this project. UPF is a programme from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency commissioned by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UPF supports damage repair and reconstruction projects for the public and private sectors. UPF aims to help the recovery and sustainable reconstruction activities of the Ukrainian economy and society in the water, healthcare, circular reconstruction, sustainable energy and agricultural sectors.