As Ukraine endures the devastating effects of war, the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal remains steadfast in supporting initiatives that provide essential psychological assistance to those affected by the ongoing conflict. Today, we are proud to highlight our impactful partnership with the Open Doors Psychological Counseling Center.
The scale of Ukraine’s mental health crisis cannot be overstated. Recent assessments by experts indicate that over 15 million Ukrainians—approximately 40-50% of the population—will require psychological support as a result of the war. The statistics are particularly alarming for vulnerable groups: 75% of Ukrainian children show symptoms of psychological trauma, while 40% of military personnel and veterans will need specialized mental health support (with 60-80% showing signs of acute trauma). Behind these numbers are real people—families torn apart, children who have lost their sense of security, and brave defenders carrying invisible wounds of trauma.
With CUF’s support, the Open Doors Psychological Counseling Center has made remarkable progress in addressing these critical needs. In 2024 alone, they have served 5,100 individuals and provided 13,046 hours of psychological services. Their network of 60 trained psychologists specializes in trauma therapy, family psychology, and child psychology, employing evidence-based therapeutic methods including EMDR, cognitive-processing therapy, and other trauma-informed approaches.
Beyond direct services, our partnership is building Ukraine’s capacity for long-term mental health support. The International Institute of Postgraduate Education, part of Open Doors’ organizational structure, trains psychologists in evidence-based therapy methods. Thanks to your generous contributions, CUF has helped fund the education of 40 students who completed the program in November 2024, as well as 20 new students from seven different Ukrainian regions who began their studies in June 2024.
The impact of this work is best expressed by the program graduates themselves. One shared: “Thanks to supervision with Ukrainian and international specialists, I gained confidence in my abilities as a therapist. Now I can call myself a trauma therapist and am ready to help those who need support.” Another noted: “I’m convinced that investing in knowledge is one of the most valuable investments. The training was filled with sessions, practical tasks, and weekly meetings with supervisors.”
As demand for psychological services continues to grow, our partners are working to expand their network of service providers across Ukraine and train more specialists in advanced trauma therapy approaches. Your continued support enables this vital work to reach more veterans, families, and children in need.
We are particularly proud of how this partnership complements our “Even the Brave Struggle” campaign, which focuses specifically on mental health support for veterans and civilians. According to Open Doors’ data, 52.5% of psychological consultations are provided to veterans and military families, addressing critical issues like PTSD symptoms, sleep deprivation, and combat-related trauma. By supporting initiatives like this one, we are creating a comprehensive approach to mental health care that serves Ukraine’s defenders and the civilian population they protect.
Your generosity makes this healing work possible. Your donation to the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal’s “Even the Brave Struggle” campaign, running until April 6th, 2025, will help provide mental health services and rehabilitation to veterans and address other urgent humanitarian needs in Ukraine. Your contribution today will be doubled thanks to the Myhal Family Foundation, which is generously matching donations up to $1 million until April 6th. Thank you for standing with Ukraine not just in rebuilding the country, but in supporting the mental well-being of its people.
Background
CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.