The surgical ward of the regional hospital is quiet for just a few minutes before the shift change. Then there is the hum of monitors, ringing phones, footsteps, voices – but it no longer masks the exhaustion that has settled deep in Olena's bones. She had once walked away from medicine, tired of the low pay and endless stress. But the war pulled her back, a desperate calling for her capable hands. Now, operating under shelling, working shifts that blur together, and living with the constant dread for her husband at the front, she feels nothing but the quiet certainty that her strength has simply run out.

The project «Doctor’s. Reboot» – implemented by ZDOROVI with the support of Americares – is designed for people exactly like Olena: not to «cheer them up», but to give them a space to genuinely rest.

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When it hurts to help others

In the Sumy, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr regions of Ukraine, a team of phycologists, who worked at the project «Doctor’s Reboot», conducted 120 individual consultations and 72 group psychological sessions with healthcare professionals. Their stories are somewhat similar: fear of not being able to cope, guilt about their patients, and irritation that appears where empathy once was. Research conducted as part of the project showed that more than two-thirds of medical workers show signs of professional burnout, and almost half have chronic anxiety.

The said psychologists have noted that anxiety is significantly higher among healthcare professionals in Ukraine's border regions compared to the national average. After heavy shelling, medical staff reactions mirror symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, causing them to work on autopilot, oblivious to their own exhaustion. For this reason, work with them began not with tests or diagnoses, but with the simplest thing: teaching them to notice themselves.

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Silence they did not let themselves hear

The «Doctor’s. Reboot»  group sessions lasted for several hours. These weren't lectures but exercises – conscious breathing, focusing on bodily sensations, and short recovery practices between shifts – that helped participants escape constant tension. Gradually, doctors began opening up about their fatigue, insomnia, and post-shift tears. They confessed that they could no longer feel their patients' pain, a realization that frightened them the most.

The group sessions led to notable improvements: participants slept better, reacted less to triggers, and learned to recognize when they needed a break. Their condition improved by an average of 56% following group sessions and 59% after individual sessions. For many, this meant regaining control over their lives.

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Omnipotence syndrome that turned out to be a trap

Ukrainian healthcare professionals, according to psychologists, often suffer from «responsibility syndrome» – the conviction that they must withstand anything for the sake of their patients' lives. This attitude was a powerful coping mechanism for a long time, but with the pressures of war, it became a suffocating trap.

«Doctors don’t let themselves rest. They feel guilty even when they have a coffee break. And then they don't notice how they burn out», explains Iryna Pyvovarchyk, one of the project’s experts.

A key component of the «Reboot» was reframing this belief: they learned that taking care of themselves isn't selfishness, but a professional duty.

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A shift in culture rather than in condition

As a result of the program, a new dynamic emerged in hospitals. Staff created «recovery corners» for moments of silence, and teams began adopting their own mini-recovery practices and reflection meetings after tough shifts. Further cementing this change, some hospital administrations incorporated emotional resilience training into their official programs.

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To summarize the program results for the April-September period:

- 866 medical workers received group support;

- 600 more people listened to the online-course, «First psychological aid for medical professionals»;

- After the training sessions ended, over 80% of participants stated that they will continue to use the acquired self-regulation techniques.

In other words, «Doctor’s.Reboot» became more than just a series of training sessions; it became an impetus for a change in the culture of communication in the medical community. According to feedback, participants want to take part in such programs again because they see the results and feel a real need for this kind of support.

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Be alive to save lives‍

Although the «Doctor’s.Reboot» project has ended, the stories of its participants endure. The mental health support program is being scaled up to other regions and medical teams. Olena has returned to her duties, and while her work remains difficult, she now knows when to pause and breathe. This newfound ability to take a breath is perhaps the most vital skill for those who are keeping the country afloat.

Reference: «Doctor’s.Reboot» project was implemented by the Humanitarian Agency ZDOROVI with the support of Americares in the Sumy, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr regions. The goal is to prevent professional burnout and develop a culture of psychological support among medical professionals.

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