The events were conducted by employees of the Department of Psychological Support of Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs.
Under the conditions of distance learning, the Department of Psychological Support of DSUIA organized an online training on the topic “Stress as a Resource. Through Challenges to Growth”. In addition, on the same day, within the framework of primary military training, a distance class on the topic “Features of Psyche Functioning in Combat Conditions” was organized with future police officers.
The organized events were aimed at increasing the level of psychological resilience of future police officers, forming self-regulation skills, preventing psycho-emotional tension and professional burnout, developing the ability to maintain efficiency under conditions of increased stress load, which is characteristic of professional activity in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The program included psycho-educational, practical and final-reflective blocks. During the classes, participants became familiar with the psychological nature of stress, its functions, impact on behavior and activity efficiency, as well as with the concepts of constructive and destructive stress. They received knowledge regarding the specifics, mechanisms and features of the impact of combat stress on the human psyche.
The practical part was aimed at developing skills of awareness of one’s own emotional and bodily reactions in stressful situations. Participants performed interactive exercises, as well as mastered basic psychotechniques of breathing self-regulation and restoration of emotional balance. The participants mastered methods of overcoming and preliminary psychological preparation for combat stress conditions in order to develop neuro-psychological resilience.
A feature of the training was the combination of classical methods of psychological work with an interactive online format, which ensured active involvement of participants, the possibility of group interaction and practical orientation of classes, including under conditions of distance learning.
The participants noted the relevance of the topics, the applied value and effectiveness of the proposed tools for further use in educational, everyday and professional activities. As noted by the class leader Vladyslav Bidniak, the participants showed interest in the topic, highly appreciated the practicality and accessible presentation of the material, and also asked questions regarding various aspects of the topics discussed.
The psychologist of the department and training leader Alina Horodnychenko noted: “Psychological preparation is an integral component of the professional formation of a police officer. A conscious attitude towards stress allows not only to preserve psychological health, but also to use difficult situations as a resource for personal and professional growth”.
Summarizing the conducted events, the Head of the Department of Psychological Support Serhii Vyshnevskyi emphasized that the specialists of the department continue psycho-educational, psycho-prophylactic, group and individual work under conditions of distance learning, since the psychological well-being of participants in the educational process is a priority.
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