In Odesa, First Lady Olena Zelenska visited the Ukrainian Medical Center for Mother and Child Rehabilitation to familiarize herself with its operations.
As part of the National Mental Health Program "How Are You?" mobile multidisciplinary teams have been established at the center to provide psychological and medical assistance to children in remote communities of the Odesa region. These teams have already made nearly 100 trips to 52 communities, examining 2,150 children and 1,228 adults.
About 80% of the patients who underwent rehabilitation at the center last year came to the facility after mobile multidisciplinary teams visited them.
"There’s no need to explain how vital medical care is right now, including mental health support, particularly in a region targeted daily by the aggressor, and especially for children. This help must be as close as possible to those in need, or even come directly to the patient, especially when it’s difficult for them to reach the regional center," the First Lady emphasized.
The President’s wife also praised the work of the Space for Social and Psychological Support for Children and Parents, which operates at the center. It provides social, psychological, legal, educational, and humanitarian assistance to families with children in vulnerable categories. Activities include art therapy, creative workshops, developmental classes, play-based activities, training sessions, speech therapy, and occupational therapy sessions for children. For parents, the center organizes training programs and peer support groups.
Olena Zelenska also visited the Odesa Regional Center for Ukrainian Culture, which conducts outreach workshops and art therapy sessions for internally displaced persons and organizes events for wounded individuals in hospitals.
Additionally, the center is implementing the innovative project "My Story," which allows displaced students to share their wartime experiences through podcasts. This initiative supports psychological recovery while helping them explore traditional Ukrainian culture. Last year, the center also launched "Christmas at Home," a space designed to unite families who have lost their homes.
"Feeling at home regardless of what you’ve endured, being surrounded by like-minded people, and feeling supported – that is what this center provides to the residents of the region. It aligns perfectly with the National Mental Health Program 'How Are You?' After all, creativity and culture are among the most important remedies for the soul," the First Lady concluded.