The event brought together leading mental health experts – doctors, psychologists, representatives of professional associations, scientists and the public sector – who discussed key challenges in prescribing psychotropic drugs, their availability and society's responsibility for safe treatment.

The event marked the launch of the Conscious Choice advocacy programme, which aims to foster a culture of responsible consumption of psychoactive drugs in Ukraine through research, expert recommendations and educational initiatives for doctors and patients.

Mental health in wartime: an invisible crisis that is getting worse

Participants in the round table emphasised that full-scale war has triggered a «silent epidemic» of mental disorders. Chronic stress, exhaustion, loss and a constant sense of danger are creating a situation in which the demand for medication is growing much faster than the level of systematic and controlled prescriptions.

According to a study conducted by ZDOROVI as part of the programme, many Ukrainians avoid professional diagnosis, refuse prescribed treatment regimens or, conversely, take psychotropic drugs on their own without realising the risks. The stigma attached to seeing a psychologist or, even more so, a psychiatrist remains high, and self-medication is widespread.

Roundtable participants: cross-sector professional dialogue

Experts from leading professional communities and institutions joined the discussion:

Valeria Paliy, chair of the working group, president of the National Psychological Association, the largest professional association of psychologists in Ukraine, academic director of psychology programmes at KSE;

Oleg Chaban, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, specialist in psychiatry and medical psychology;

Serhiy Andriichenko, Head of the Psychiatric Care Medical Centre of the State Institution «TMO of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine», member of the Association of Psychiatrists of Ukraine;

Yulia Klymchuk, Head of the Mental Health Centre at the Kyiv City Medical Centre, member of the Ukrainian Psychiatrists Association;

Mila Grebenyuk, co-founder and chair of the Ukrainian Association of Clinical Psychologists;

Volodymyr Korostiy, Professor at Kharkiv National Medical University.

Also present were representatives of international and national non-governmental organisations – International Medical Corps, Razom for Ukraine and the Right to Protection Charitable Foundation, namely: Viktor Vus, Kateryna Molchanova, Nataliya Marchuk and other representatives of the public sector and international partnerships.

Discussion results

Participants discussed the low level of public trust and prestige of medical professions in the field of mental health. War, high emotional and professional stress, staff shortages, insufficient funding and information attacks lead to the devaluation of the role of workers.

Experts emphasised that without public respect for doctors, it is impossible to ensure quality prescriptions and responsible treatment.

ZDOROVI's analytical presentation highlighted key trends: Ukrainians are increasingly turning to antidepressants, mood stabilisers and anxiolytics, but at the same time, uncontrolled self-medication is becoming more widespread. This is influenced by advice from the internet, popular psychological blogs, poor-quality advertising, and cases of excessive availability of certain drugs in pharmacy chains.

The working group participants emphasised that it is the medical community that must restore the authority of the professional approach: patients need not chaotic advice, but strict adherence to clinical protocols and support from qualified specialists.

Particular attention was paid to the problem of the spread of unqualified advice from artificial intelligence systems. Experts noted that users often perceive automated responses as professional recommendations, although such systems are not capable of assessing risks, side effects or concomitant conditions. This poses a real threat to the health of people who independently choose treatment based on such advice.

The role of family doctors and primary care specialists in the treatment process was also raised. They are the first to meet patients who do not understand their condition or do not trust the psychiatrist's prescriptions. Experts emphasised the need to develop effective psychoeducation tools, which will form the basis of the information and education module within the Conscious Choice programme.

At the end, the main directions for further work were outlined:

- creation of an inter-sectoral working group;

- development of recommendations on regulating access to psychotropic drugs;

- advocacy for change at the level of the Ministry of Health and professional associations;

- conducting a nationwide media campaign to raise public awareness.

«We are not just analysing the problem – we are starting a national dialogue. Together with our partners, we want every Ukrainian to have access to decent, professional and humane care. And we want this choice to be a truly informed one», concluded Natalia Tulinova.

The project is implemented with the support of the Askold and Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Ednannia within the framework of the programme «Strong Civil Society in Ukraine – a Driver of Reforms and Democracy» and funded by Norway and Sweden.

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