International Rescue Committee Releases Practical Guide to Support Ukrainian Healthcare Workers' Mental Health

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), in partnership with Ukraine’s National Agency ZDOROVI, has issued a new Practical Guide for Mental Health, Psychosocial Support and Staff Care. The guide follows an October 2024 assessment that found one in five Ukrainian healthcare workers exhibited negative coping patterns amid prolonged conflict, air raids, attacks on facilities, staff shortages and increased workloads. The assessment also identified gaps in stress‑management skills, psychological support access and organizational support within health facilities. IRC’s subsequent stress‑management training, piloted in Ukraine, showed improved well‑being, better stress‑management capacities, stronger peer support and higher perceptions of workplace support among participants. The guide offers technical guidance for psychologists, practical recommendations for facility managers, and self‑care tools for frontline workers, aiming to strengthen staff well‑being and sustain essential health services in a high‑stress, conflict‑affected setting.