A recent study has revealed that educators in Ukraine’s conflict zones have significantly improved their mental health after participating in a virtual training program aimed at supporting the psychological well-being of their students. Conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University, and the Open University in the United Kingdom, the study evaluated a program called Psychosocial Support for Educators (PSE) which was provided to 881 educators across three heavily affected regions of Ukraine.
The findings, published in the journal Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, indicate that participation in the PSE program not only increased educators’ knowledge and readiness to assist students dealing with trauma but also led to a notable reduction in their own symptoms of anxiety and depression. The initiative was commissioned by the global nonprofit Americares and co-designed with Ukrainian psychologists from Smart Osvita, ensuring that the training addressed the specific cultural and emotional needs of educators working in active war zones.
Impact of Training on Educators and Students
The research highlighted that educators who took part in the PSE intervention reported greater mental well-being, enhanced knowledge of psychosocial support strategies, and improved readiness to provide psychological assistance to their students compared to those in the control group. According to the study’s first author, Tara Powell, who is also a professor and associate dean for research in social work at Illinois, “The PSE participants experienced greater reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms, perceived stress, and feelings of burnout.”
Moreover, the improvements observed in the educators’ mental health were sustained or even increased during a follow-up assessment one month after the intervention. The study reflects a critical need for such psychosocial support in the wake of the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in the destruction or damage of over 3,700 schools and universities in Ukraine.
“Targeted psychosocial support can strengthen the mental health and resilience of teachers—who are often both caregivers and survivors—so they are better equipped to support the children in their classrooms,” said Rose Hogan, deputy senior vice president of quality, impact, and learning at Americares.
Challenges Faced by Educators
The study involved 572 educators who participated in the PSE training and 309 educators who were in the control group. Almost half of the participants were located in Southeastern Ukraine, with the remainder from Central and Western regions. Most of those involved were female teachers with extensive experience, averaging over 16 years in the field.
The training encompassed live presentations, recorded videos, self-assessment quizzes, and supplemental reading materials, covering topics such as recognizing mental health conditions prevalent among war-affected children. Participants in the control group did not receive this training but were surveyed at three points—baseline, conclusion of the intervention, and a one-month follow-up.
Organizing the study faced significant challenges, as noted by Oksana Makarenko, project lead at Smart Osvita. Ongoing shelling forced some educators to relocate to shelters during online training sessions, while power outages and loss of internet access hindered participation. Only responses from those who could complete all components were included in the analysis.
“The importance of enhancing teachers’ knowledge of mental health and psychosocial support skills in conflict regions cannot be overstated,” Powell emphasized. The findings suggest that the intervention significantly boosts teachers’ preparedness to address students’ complex psychological needs in these difficult circumstances.
The collaborative effort involved co-authors from various institutions, including Natalia Portnytska, Iryna Tychyna, and Olha Savychenko, all from Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University. The paper also featured contributions from psychologists and project managers at Smart Osvita, highlighting a united front in addressing the pressing mental health challenges faced by educators in Ukraine.
As the conflict continues, the demand for effective psychosocial interventions remains high, underscoring the vital role of educators in supporting the next generation amid adversity.
