Adolescence is a time of rapid change and self-discovery. It is a period full of opportunities, but also high risks — especially in the context of war and instability in Ukraine. Healthcare and social workers play a crucial role in supporting adolescents during this formative stage of life.
Many teenagers face psychological pressure, engage in risky behavior, and lack access to quality medical and social services. This is why the role of healthcare and social professionals is essential in providing timely and sensitive support to young people.
AFEW-Ukraine, together with its long-standing partners — the Kharkiv Charitable Foundation “Blago” and the Charitable Foundation “Nova Simya” — has been working for many years with adolescents and young people from key populations. We provide not only support and safe spaces but also help build trust in the healthcare system.
Collaboration with Doctors of the World – Netherlands has strengthened our engagement with healthcare workers, often the first to encounter adolescents in crisis. They are the ones who can either offer crucial help or, unfortunately, push them away.
In April, a training was held in Chernivtsi for family doctors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers from the Chernivtsi and Kharkiv regions.
The event brought together representatives of the charitable foundations “Blago” and “Nova Simya,” as well as staff from partner institutions — city councils, educational institutions, and local services working with adolescents and youth.
During the training, participants deepened their knowledge and skills essential for providing basic psychological support within primary healthcare settings.
Key focus areas included:
recognizing signs of stress, depression, and anxiety
delivering psychological first aid
practicing non-violent communication with adolescents
Together, participants learned how to better support adolescents facing difficult life circumstances — with empathy, without judgment, and with a focus on trust, mental health, and respectful treatment.
Throughout the training, all participants had the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics that enhance understanding of the needs of adolescents with experiences of substance use, emotional challenges, or vulnerability to risky behaviors.
Key topics of the training included:
• Common challenges of adolescence and typical behavioral responses
• Prevention of risky behaviors and the harm reduction approach
• Trauma-informed and non-violent communication
• The impact of war on young people’s mental health
• Supporting professionals: preventing burnout and vicarious trauma
• Motivational communication as a tool for change
The key takeaway for participants was the understanding that an adolescent, even in difficult life circumstances, needs not judgment but partnership. And that a healthcare provider can be the first trusted adult to help them find a way forward.
Participants highlighted several key points that were particularly important to them:
- On factors that exacerbate risky behavior among adolescents:
Participants noted that the most common factors are social isolation and rights violations, which adolescents from at-risk groups face daily. These conditions create a foundation for the development of dangerous behavior patterns. - On signs of psychological trauma in adolescents:
According to participants, sleep disturbances and drastic mood swings can be important indicators of a deep internal crisis in a young person. These symptoms require a sensitive approach and immediate response from professionals. - On the most valuable topics of the training:
Among the topics that generated the most interest, participants highlighted professional burnout and work with trauma and traumatic communication. They emphasized that these issues are often overlooked, yet they significantly affect the quality of support provided to adolescents.
Тренінг проводився в рамках проєкту «Поза межами травми: Розширення послуг з охорони психічного здоров’я на рівні громад для дітей та молоді з груп ризику в постраждалих від конфлікту громадах України».
Проєкт реалізується під керівництвом War Child Alliance у співпраці з чотирма партнерами консорціуму: AFEW-Ukraine, Dokters van de Wereld (NL), Médecins du Monde Greece – Γιατροί του Κόσμου та Всеукраїнським фондом «Крок за кроком»(USSF). Проєкт фінансується через програму Ukraine Partnership Facility (UPF), яка реалізується Нідерландським агентством підприємництва (RVO) за дорученням Міністерства закордонних справ Нідерландів.
The training was conducted as part of the project “Beyond Trauma: Expanding Mental Health Services at the Community Level for At-Risk Children and Youth in Conflict-Affected Communities in Ukraine.”
The project is led by the War Child Alliance in collaboration with four consortium partners: FEW-Ukraine, Dokters van de Wereld (NL), Médecins du Monde Greece – Γιατροί του Κόσμου, and the All-Ukrainian Foundation “Step by Step” (USSF). The project is funded through the Ukraine Partnership Facility (UPF) program, implemented by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
