{"id":157063,"date":"2025-10-10T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kirkonulkomaanapu.fi\/?post_type=news&p=157063"},"modified":"2025-10-09T09:38:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T06:38:51","slug":"fca-is-strengthening-childrens-mental-health-and-resilience-in-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.kirkonulkomaanapu.fi\/en\/latest-news\/news\/fca-is-strengthening-childrens-mental-health-and-resilience-in-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"FCA is strengthening children’s mental health and resilience in Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FCA is strengthening children’s mental health and resilience in Ukraine<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Children attend lessons in converted classrooms within a metro station in Kharkiv. Photo: Antti Yrj\u00f6nen\/FCA<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPsychosocial support is not a luxury, but a lifeline for teachers, children, and families living with the realities of war,\u201d said Patricia Maruschak, Country Director of Finn Church Aid (FCA) in Ukraine<\/strong>, as the organisation released new independent findings on its work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyiv, Ukraine,<\/em> 10 October 2025<\/em>
A COMPREHENSIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT<\/strong> conducted in Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Kyiv shows that FCA\u2019s psychosocial support programmes have significantly improved mental health, coping skills, and resilience across schools and communities during the ongoing conflict. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Ukraine continues to endure the devastating impacts of war, the new evaluation highlights the vital role of psychosocial support (PSS) in strengthening wellbeing and equipping teachers, children, and families with tools to navigate trauma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 million likely to develop a mental health condition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The scale of need is overwhelming: humanitarian partners estimate that nearly 10 million people in Ukraine \u2013 including 1.4 million children \u2013<\/u> are likely to develop a mental health condition, with 3.9 million expected to experience moderate or severe conditions<\/strong> . Against this backdrop, FCA\u2019s interventions provide vital tools and safe spaces for communities to cope with trauma and rebuild resilience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through support such as safe spaces for children, teacher wellbeing and training, and art therapy<\/strong>, FCA has contributed to protecting mental health and fostering resilience in conflict-affected communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commissioned by Finn Church Aid (FCA) and conducted by Middle East Consulting Solutions (MECS), the Comprehensive Impact Assessment of Psychosocial Support Activities in Ukraine<\/em> reviewed FCA\u2019s education-linked PSS interventions implemented since 2022. The portfolio includes safe spaces for children, teacher wellbeing cycles, Psychological First Aid (PFA), Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) training, and additional initiatives such as KOLO Clubs and Art Therapy, including the DG ECHO-funded \u201cSafe Return to Education\u201d programme 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key findings<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n