Ukraine workers train at Yale to learn about PTSD

Aug. 28--NEW HAVEN -- In Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists are waging war against a loyal population, post-traumatic stress disorder has become a common condition, straining psychological resources.

This week, 20 Ukrainian mental health workers and clergy are teaming up with peers from the Yale School of Medicine to learn techniques and share their experiences from their war-torn nation.

The objective, in the short term, is "to provide training and support to a group of professionals who are going to go back to Ukraine and work in a very challenging setting [with] high levels of psychological trauma," said Dr. John Krystal, chairman of psychiatry at the Yale medical school, at a press session Wednesday at 300 George St.

"It is an honor, a privilege and a necessity that we are all here together," said Dr. Steven Marans, director of the National Center for Children Exposed to Violence. He called the gathering a "paradox, that in a time of tragedy, it is a time to join together in solidarity [about] events which none of us would choose and none of us can control."

Speaking through an interpreter, the group spoke of the physical and psychological wounds experienced by the citizens of Ukraine, including the police actions against protesters in Maidan, or Independence Square, in central Kyiv, the capital.

"Currently, there are a lot of people dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder ... so there is a sense to change the direction of the protest of Maidan and start providing psychological assistance," said Marta Pyvovarenko, a psychologist who helped run a program preparing protesters psychologically for protests in the square.

"As of today, there are no people living in Maidan, said Dr. Volodymyr Pohorilyy, an organizer of the Kyiv Maidan Psychological Service. "But as far as the consequences of Maidan are concerned, a lot of psychological issues remain to be addressed."

There is a lack of understanding of psychology and psychiatry in otherwise well equipped military hospitals and a lack of professionals for both the military and civilians, the delegates said, but the need is huge. "Psychological services tend to fall on the bottom in terms of priorities," said Dr. Martha Bojko, who has done research on public health in Ukraine since 2001.

"We're committed to think positively because that's the only solution to address post-traumatic stress disorder," said the Rev. Andriy Lohin of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, who is chairman of the church's commission for pastoral health care. "For Ukrainian citizens, anything that concerns psychological or psychiatric support is a new topic."

Dr. Steven Southwick, professor of psychiatry and deputy director of the National Center for PTSD, said of the encounter, "We were delighted and excited that we could collaborate."

Orest Kyzyk, a former Wall Street executive and board member of the Ukrainian Institute of America, said the medical school has been invited to continue training in Ukraine.

"Training 20 people isn't going to solve the problems of a country of 45 million people," Krystal said. "However, each of these people are going to go back and train many, many more people and we will try to find ways to support them in an ongoing way so this training period is the tip of a spear that will have a much greater impact over time."

Call Ed Stannard at 203-789-5743. Do you have questions, feedback or ideas about our news coverage? Connect with New Haven Register editors at AskTheRegister.com.

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