The “Universal Mental Health Training for First-Line Professionals” was held over two days.
The event was organized at Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs (DSUIA) as part of the Ukrainian-Swiss Project “Mental Health for Ukraine” (MH4U), which supports the implementation of mental health care reform in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. The training opened with remarks from DSUIA First Vice-Rector, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor Ihor Mahdalina. The sessions were moderated by Larysa Nalyvaiko, Assistant to the Rector for Gender Issues, Doctor of Legal Sciences, Professor, and Honored Lawyer of Ukraine.
Participants included community police officers and juvenile prevention inspectors from the Main Directorate of the National Police in Dnipropetrovsk Region and district police departments. The universal training aimed to enhance the awareness of first-line professionals regarding mental health and disorders.
The trainers were Serhii Vyshnevskyi, Head of the Psychological Support Department at DSUIA, brainspotter, and full member of the National Psychological Association of Ukraine and the Association of University Psychologists of Ukraine, and Hanna Mhlynets, art therapist, clinical psychologist, biosuggestive therapist, coach, and author of training programs incorporating CBT exercises, hypnotherapy, art coaching, and See Far CBT methods.
During the training, participants gained skills in recognizing, engaging, interacting, supporting, and referring individuals with various mental health disorders or in acute conditions. The training specifically addressed identifying individuals with PTSD, depression, substance use, panic disorders, and more, considering current challenges.
DSUIA First Vice-Rector Ihor Mahdalina congratulated the participants, and upon completion, each received a certificate and a workbook with an algorithm for practical application.
— 56