Simple things can change lives
Interview with Ukrainian clinical psychologist Ganna Velichko
Ganna Velichko is an experienced clinical psychologist and coordinator of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme ‘How are you?’ in the Odesa region. She returned to Ukraine after some time in Poland, where her son struggled with psychosomatic symptoms. ‘We still live in horror. One day, it’s quiet. The next day, there might be missile strikes,’ she said.
Self-care in times of war
Though experienced, Ganna continues to educate herself. 'About the 7ROSES training, I questioned whether the training was truly relevant for today's reality.' But the training had a great impact. 'The training focused on self-care. Simple things can change lives. Even just asking for someone's name and talking about the story behind it brings people together.'
Constant uncertainty
Ganna advocates for more awareness and support, especially for wives of military personnel. 'They live in constant uncertainty. Will he come back? Will he be wounded or die? No one is supporting these women and their children.' Psychology is everywhere, says Ganna - in conversation, in creativity, in attention. 'We all carry a great responsibility for each other's mental health.'
Small gestures, big impact
Sometimes, the biggest help is in a simple gesture. 'Someone going through a hard time might sit next to you and open up. That connection can lead to getting real help. As a psychologist, I'm very grateful for that.'
Thanks to the support of Giro555, Ganna attended several training sessions by ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre on treating psychotrauma and self-care. ARQ developed the 7ROSES methodology to learn how to cope with everyday stressors. Increasing resilience is a central focus of this training.
