We should not be afraid to be human: a forum to support veterans’ families was held in Kyiv

A Forum-Workshop dedicated to the psychological well-being and adaptation of families of military personnel, veterans, and military women was held in Kyiv. The event brought together hundreds of participants and became a space for dialogue, mutual support, and practical work with stress.

The main goal of the forum was to create a women’s community where the wives of veterans and defenders, as well as relatives of missing or captured soldiers, could share their experiences and receive professional assistance.

A separate program was organized for the children of the participants – they were given a day of rest and entertainment at an amusement park.

Special attention was paid to the connection between a person’s psychological and physical state under conditions of chronic stress.

Obstetrician-gynecologist Lyudmila Shupenyuk emphasized that women often take on excessive responsibility and take care of their loved ones, but at the same time forget about their own health.

“We are very strong, but sometimes we don’t allow ourselves to be weak. Seeking psychological help, even just human help, is the right to be human. To cry, to be happy, to give yourself the opportunity to relax for a minute,” Shupenyuk noted.

According to her, a woman often becomes the center of the family, taking care of her husband, children, and parents, so it is important for her not to forget about herself.

“Every woman must first take care of herself in order to survive and have the strength to take care of her family and country,” the doctor emphasized.

The forum-workshop was initiated by the Svyatoshyn District State Administration, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, and the public organization STRUM with the support of the Kyiv Judo Federation headed by Georgy Zantaray.