{"id":6406,"date":"2025-12-18T12:40:48","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T10:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/?p=6406"},"modified":"2026-04-30T23:43:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T20:43:04","slug":"theological-and-practical-strategies-for-strengthening-the-mental-health-of-ukrainian-society-during-the-war-period-2014-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/uk\/theological-and-practical-strategies-for-strengthening-the-mental-health-of-ukrainian-society-during-the-war-period-2014-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0411\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0441\u044c\u043a\u043e-\u043f\u0440\u0430\u043a\u0442\u0438\u0447\u043d\u0456 \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0435\u0433\u0456\u0457 \u0437\u043c\u0456\u0446\u043d\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044f \u043c\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0437\u0434\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0432\u2019\u044f \u0443\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0441\u0443\u0441\u043f\u0456\u043b\u044c\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0430 \u0443 \u0432\u043e\u0454\u043d\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0456\u043e\u0434 2014\u20132024 \u0440\u0440."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Lyubomyr Slonets<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">postgraduate student at Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\".\">ORCID: orcid.org\/0009-0006-8222-4551 | ragnarkk870@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Number DOI: <a href=\"http:\/\/doi.org\/10.33209\/2519-4348-2707-9627-2025-13-182\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/doi.org\/10.33209\/2519-4348-2707-9627-2025-13-182<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Volynskyi Blahovisnyk. \u2116 13. 2025. P. 293-309.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The war that has been going on in Ukraine since 2014 and especially intensified in 2022\u20132024 has had a tremendous impact on the mental and spiritual health of Ukrainian society. In such conditions, a scientific and practical problem arises: how the Church, in particular the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, can contribute to strengthening the mental health of people during war, combining theological approaches with practical psychological support. The article reviews modern research on the impact of war on the mental health of Ukrainians. It has been found that military conflict leads to the mass spread of traumatic stress, grief, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other disorders. At the same time, there is a historically formed stigmatization of mental health problems in Ukrainian culture, partly related to the misinterpretation of Orthodox traditions. In response to these challenges, the Church is looking for new ways of pastoral care: from spiritual support and prayer to cooperation with psychologists and the implementation of educational programs on the basics of psychology for the clergy. The article presents examples of the use of religious faith as a coping strategy by Ukrainians during the war, the role of military chaplaincy in maintaining the moral and mental state of the military, as well as specific initiatives of the OCU aimed at helping the victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Analysis of this situation calls for the development of a theological and practical strategy for strengthening mental health in wartime, combining spiritual resources with scientifically based psychological assistance. The results of the study confirm that the combination of the theology of co-suffering, psychological knowledge and active social service contributes to the healing of war trauma and strengthening the spirit of the people. It is time to systematize theologically based approaches to mental health during wartime and highlight the most effective developments of the OCU in this area. The prospects for further research lie in determining the forms of active cooperation between church and psychological communities, the need to develop educational programs for clergy in the psychology of trauma, as well as the importance of spiritual practices (prayer, Sacraments, community) in restoring the spiritual balance of a society experiencing military trials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key words:<\/strong> mental health, mental trauma, pastoral care, overcoming stress, war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u00abTse dukhovna viina\u00bb: Epifanii pro Rizdvo, viinu ta Moskovskyi Patriarkhat. (2024). Retrieved from: https:\/\/korabelov.info\/2024\/12\/485293\/tse-dukhovna-vijna-epifanij-pro-rizdvo-vijnu-ta-moskovskyj-patriarkhat\/ [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grimmel J. (2025). Understanding Ukrainian military chaplains as defenders of the human soul.&nbsp; Frontiers in Sociology. Retrieved from: https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC11936900\/#:~:text=The%20aim%20of%20this%20article,The%20empirical%20material<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oviedo L., Seryczynska B. etal. (2022). Coping and Resilience Strategies among Ukraine War Refugees. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/19\/20\/13094<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Swenson A., Williams J. (2023). Public Health, Religion, and Spirituality in Wartime. Retrieved from: https:\/\/publichealthrs.org\/a043\/#:~:text=invasion%20and%20occupation%20are%20pervasive,21<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tomkiw L. (2025). Ukraine war forces \u0430 nation to talk about a taboo: Post-traumatic stress disorder. Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ibtimes.com\/ukraine-war-forces-nation-talk-about-taboo-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-1869506<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bakuridze N. H. etal. (2024). Psykholohichna pidtrymka viiskovykh: postravmatychnyi syndrom ta metody yoho podolannia. Vcheni zapysky TNU imeni V.I. Vernadskoho. Seriia: Psykholohiia. Vol. 35 (74), \u2116 2 [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Balytska A. etal. (2024). Vplyv dukhovnosti fakhivtsiv medychnoi haluzi na zmitsnennia yikhnoho mentalnoho zdorovia. Aktualni pytannia humanitarnykh nauk. Issue. 81, Vol. 1 [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Haletska I. (2007). Psykholohichni osnovy destyhmatyzatsii. Psykholohichni aspekty styhmatyzatsii ta reabilitatsii. Lviv [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ierofei (Vlakhos), mitr. Pravoslavnaya psikhterapiya. Svyato-Troitskaya Sergieva Lavra, 2005 [in Russian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kapelan PTsU rozpoviv pro viinu, viru ta Velykden u zoni boiovykh dii. (2025). Retrieved from: https:\/\/df.news\/2025\/04\/17\/kapelan-ptsu-rozpoviv-pro-vijnu-viru-ta-velykden-u-zoni-bojovykh-dij [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kostruba N. S. (2020). Psykhichne zdorovia i relihiia: rol dushpastyrskoi opiky v medychnykh zakladakh. Teoriia i praktyka suchasnoi psykholohii. Vol. 1, \u2116 1 [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kuznetsov O., ShenIui S. (2023). Metodyka diahnostyky relihiinykh kopinhiv. Visnyk KhNPU imeni H.S. Skovorody. Psykholohiia.. Issue. 69 [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Len V. V. (2022). Psykholoho-sotsialne i kryminolohichne zabezpechennia dopomohy poterpilym pid chas voiennoho ta povoiennoho periodu. Materialy mizhnarodnoi naukovo-praktychnoi konferentsii. Kunovitse. [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Makovskyi A. O. (2023). Rol viiskovoho kapelana u zberezhenni psykhichnoho zdorovia viiskovosluzhbovtsiv. Dniprovskyi naukovyi chasopys publichnoho upravlinnia, psykholohii, prava. Issue. 2 [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Panko O. I., Behei S. S. (2023). Sotsialna robota tserkov ta relihiinykh orhanizatsii v umovakh viiny v Ukraini. Filosofiia ta politolohiia v konteksti suchasnoi kultury\u00bb.. Vol. 15, \u2116 2 [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pyroh H. V., Lytvynchuk K. V. (2025). Zviazok relihiinosti ta kopinh-stratehii ukraintsiv u chasi viiny. Habitus.. Issue. 69, Vol. 2 [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Skoriak O. I., Muntian L. Ya. (2024). Volonterstvo yak forma sotsialno-psykholohichnoi dopomohy v Ukraini. Materialy vseukrainskoi naukovo-praktychnoi konferentsii (pp. 105-111). Mykolaiv [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>U Buchi vidbulosia vidkryttia ta osviachennia Tsentru sotsialno-psykholohichnoi dopomohy za uchasti Mytropolyta Epifaniia. Retrieved from: https:\/\/koda.gov.ua\/u-buchi-vidbulosya-vidkryttya-ta-osvyachennya-czentru-soczialno-psyhologichnoyi-dopomogy-za-uchasti-mytropolyta-epifaniya [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Khomiv M. A. (2023). Osoblyvosti sotsialnoi frustratsii v osib, yaki perezhyly vtratu ridnykh ta blyzkykh. Lviv [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chomu Boh dopuskaie strazhdannia? Poiasnennia Predstoiatelia PTsU. Retrieved from: https:\/\/df.news\/2024\/01\/24\/chomu-boh-dopuskaie-strazhdannia-poiasnennia-predstoiatelia-ptsu\/ [in Ukrainian].<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/vb_13_2025_17.pdf\">View\/download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Number DOI: http:\/\/doi.org\/10.33209\/2519-4348-2707-9627-2025-13-182 Volynskyi Blahovisnyk. \u2116 13. 2025. P. 293-309. Summary The war that has been going on in Ukraine since 2014 and especially intensified in 2022\u20132024 has had a tremendous impact on the mental and spiritual health of Ukrainian society. In such conditions, a scientific and practical problem arises: how the Church, in particular the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, can contribute to strengthening the mental health of people during war, combining theological approaches with practical psychological support. The article reviews modern research on the impact of war on the mental health of Ukrainians. It has been found that military conflict leads to the mass spread of traumatic stress, grief, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other disorders. At the same time, there is a historically formed stigmatization of mental health problems in Ukrainian culture, partly related to the misinterpretation of Orthodox traditions. In response to these challenges, the Church is looking for new ways of pastoral care: from spiritual support and prayer to cooperation with psychologists and the implementation of educational programs on the basics of psychology for the clergy. The article presents examples of the use of religious faith as a coping strategy by Ukrainians during the war, the role of military chaplaincy in maintaining the moral and mental state of the military, as well as specific initiatives of the OCU aimed at helping the victims. Analysis of this situation calls for the development of a theological and practical strategy for strengthening mental health in wartime, combining spiritual resources with scientifically based psychological assistance. The results of the study confirm that the combination of the theology of co-suffering, psychological knowledge and active social service contributes to the healing of war trauma and strengthening the spirit of the people. It is time to systematize theologically based approaches to mental health during wartime and highlight the most effective developments of the OCU in this area. The prospects for further research lie in determining the forms of active cooperation between church and psychological communities, the need to develop educational programs for clergy in the psychology of trauma, as well as the importance of spiritual practices (prayer, Sacraments, community) in restoring the spiritual balance of a society experiencing military trials. Key words: mental health, mental trauma, pastoral care, overcoming stress, war in Ukraine. References:<\/p>","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[349],"tags":[371],"class_list":["post-6406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category--13-2025","tag-lyubomyr-slonets","post-no-thumbnail"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6406"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6534,"href":"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6406\/revisions\/6534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vb.vpba.edu.ua\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}