One of the key areas of activity of the women’s wing of the All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Defenders of Ukraine is providing psychological support to those who need it. In the context of war, care for mental health becomes critically important, as experienced losses and traumatic events have long-term effects on both individuals and society as a whole.
Members of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Organization of the Trade Union, psychologists Svitlana Timofieieva and Olena Kuptsova, with the support of the TAPS Charitable Foundation, are developing methodological materials that include self-help techniques and practical recommendations for people who have experienced the loss of loved ones. The materials were reviewed by Andrii Artemchuk, a member of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Organization of the Trade Union and a colonel of the National Guard of Ukraine.
Recently, 50 copies of the new methodological guide “How to Support Women and Girls Who Have Lost a Loved One” were delivered from Dnipro to the main office of the women’s wing in Kyiv. The publication is intended for professionals and volunteers working with families who have suffered military losses. The recommendations presented in the guide help readers better understand the process of grieving, navigate complex emotional states, determine appropriate actions in crisis situations, and use effective self-help tools.
“This guide was created to help understand the grieving process and minimize the impact of experienced trauma on women’s mental health. It gathers insights into the internal and external changes that occur in women who have lost their husbands, as well as the specific challenges of combining the experience of loss with adolescent development in girls,” said co-author of the guide, psychologist Svitlana Timofieieva.
“The loss of a loved one is always accompanied by deep pain. For our Trade Union, it is extremely important that the families of the fallen feel supported and understand that they are not alone in their grief. We are by their side and ready to help at any moment,” emphasized Sofia Cherepanova, Deputy Head of the All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Defenders of Ukraine.
