More than 40 NGO leaders, local government representatives, psychologists and psychiatrists deepened their knowledge of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment and strengthened their working relationships during two training workshops organised by the Pompidou Group in Ukraine from 6 to 12 July. The first workshop took place in Kiev and focused on the coordination and sharing of information among Ukrainian authorities and civil society organisations (CSOs) at national, regional and community levels. CSO leaders agreed that they must form efficient coalitions to contribute to policy development at the governmental level. The second training workshop was organised in Kramatosk in eastern Ukraine, close to the occupied territories where many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) reside.

During this 4-day workshop, 30 psychologists and psychiatrists who work directly with IDPs in three regions of Ukraine (Donetsk, Lugansk and Zaporizhia) acquired theoretical knowledge and practical skills on SEE FAR CBT, an Israeli treatment protocol for anxiety and stress related disorders. The workshop sessions also covered important topics such as early detection, diagnosis and treatment of acute stress reactions, referral mechanisms and community resilience. The workshops were led by Dr Miki Doron and Dr Reuven Rogel of the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) and had been organised under the Council of Europe project ‘Strengthening the Human Rights Protection of Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine’.