CF “East SOS” Keeps Running Its Series of Psychological Safety Training Sessions for Humanitarian Teams

The war in Ukraine is ongoing, and the russian army keeps systematically attacking not only civilian infrastructure but also those who are trying to save lives — medical staff, rescuers, police officers, volunteers, and humanitarian organizations operating in frontline areas. This deliberate and sustained pressure drains teams who work daily in harm’s way. According to a study by the international organization HIAS (2024–2025), 39% of women and 33.8% of men in Ukraine’s humanitarian sector show symptoms of mental health disorders — anxiety, depression, or PTSD.

To help others, one needs strength. And strength is not only about physical health, but also about inner resources, stability, and support. For this reason, the Charity Foundation “East SOS” organized psychological safety training sessions for humanitarian teams — to ensure that those who help others can avoid burnout.

We delivered two training sessions, “Psychological First Aid and Psychological Safety for Those Who Save Lives,’ in Dnipro, one of which was held at the Community Studio — a free-of-charge space for humanitarian workers, volunteers, and local initiatives set up by the CF
“Team4UA”  as part of the TERA Consortium with the support from UHF.

The training sessions for the teams were conducted by Pavlo Horbenko, Junior Researcher at the Center for Mental Health of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, psychologist, psychotherapist, and trauma therapist. The training was attended by 40 representatives of the humanitarian sector, including members of the CSO “Light of Culture,” CF “East SOS,” the international organization Solidarités International, CF “Team4UA,” the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the CF “Children of the New Generation” (CNG).

Participants engaged in hands-on exercises, mastered self-regulation techniques and learned to manage acute stress responses. They also practiced how to intervene during moments of stupor, aggression, or panic and were introduced to the international ICOVER protocol for providing step-by-step psychological first aid. The sessions also included case study analysis, burnout prevention models, and simulated communication with affected persons.

Psychological safety for humanitarian workers is critically important and should be integrated into every aspect of our work. The teams witness pain every day, operate under constant pressure, and save lives in frontline areas. We train our own teams and strive to ensure that the entire sector has access to support, because only by staying resourced and united can we save more lives. In parallel, we deliver first-aid training sessions, combining physical readiness with psychological resilience

noted Inna Dikhtiarenko, TERA Consortium Manager at CF “East SOS.

The training sessions were implemented  as part the project “Emergency Assistance and Support to Evacuations,” initiated by the TERA Consortium. The Consortium is composed of the charity foundations Team4UA, East SOS, Angels of Salvation, and the Relief Humanitarian Center.