Kherson State University

Representatives of the Department of Psychology at Kherson State University completed the full cycle of six webinars on establishing university psychological centers as part of Work Package 3 (WP3) of the project «Boosting University Psychological Resilience and Wellbeing in (Post-) War Ukrainian Nation».

The webinars took place from May 8 to June 13, 2024, and were attended by members of KSU’s Department of Psychology, which is responsible for the project’s implementation.

The project aims to share best practices in providing psychological support to university communities impacted by the war. The project’s partners include universities from Estonia, Germany, Latvia, and five Ukrainian universities.

The project coordinator from KSU is Professor Ihor Popovych, while the project team members are Professor Anzhelika Kolli-Shamne, Associate Professor Nataliia Tavrovetska, Associate Professor Ivan Krupnyk, Lecturer Valentyna Kalenchuk, and PhD student Mariia Pocheketa.

All of them successfully completed the full cycle of six webinars (WP3) focused on developing educational components as part of the "Boosting University Psychological Resilience and Wellbeing in (Post-) War Ukrainian Nation" project.

FIRST WEBINAR (08.05.2024). Speaker: Dace Siliņa (University of Latvia)  presented the goal, objectives, and key components of the Career Center of the University of Latvia, which is part of the Learning Services Department. The Learning Services Department comprises four divisions: the Academic Services Department; the Admissions Office; the Mobility Department; and the Career Center.

SECOND WEBINAR (13.05.2024). Speaker: Kristel Lään-Saarik (University of Tartu) introduced the history of counseling services at the University of Tartu. The Career and Psychological Counseling Service, founded in 1999, was the first of its kind among Estonian universities. The Counseling Center, located within the university library, employs sixteen staff members, some of whom work part-time. The center offers individual counseling, seminars, group support, a peer support groups and mentor training.

THIRD WEBINAR (20.05.2024). Speakers: Toni Jürgen and Sharipha Rzayeva (University of Tartu) conducted a webinar on "Group Work." They demonstrated the benefits of group-based approaches to mental health support. Key aspects included: 1) Psychological support services at the Counseling Center; 2)The vision for mental health services in Estonia; 3) Advantages of group work in mental health support

FOURTH WEBINAR (23.05.2024). Speaker: Laura Pirsko (University of Latvia) introduced the work of the Psychological Assistance Center, highlighting its key tasks: Providing psychological support to those in need;  Organizing internships for psychology students;  Establishing a foundation for scientific research; Generating funding; Hosting community seminars.

FIFTH WEBINAR (29.05.2024). Speaker: Brigitte Reysen-Kostudis (Freie Universität Berlin) presented the work of the Centre for Study Advice and Psychological Counselling. This center provides not only psychological assistance but also guidance on various academic-related issues.

SIXTH WEBINAR (13.06.2024). Speakers: Lars Kuchinke (IPU Berlin), Laura Pirsko (Latvia), and Kristel Lään-Saarik  (Estonia) conducted the final webinar: "University Psychological Service and Support" The session focused on the organization of psychological centers and outlined various areas of support. Project partners shared their experiences and expectations for future work. The importance of detailed planning and the development of a universal design for Psychological Centers was emphasized. These centers must be inclusive, addressing diverse needs while ensuring effective support and resilience-building.

We continue to adopt European best practices to protect and strengthen the mental health of our citizens! We sincerely thank our European partners and Ukrainian coordinators for their efforts and invaluable expertise!