Hope as Infrastructure: What It Takes to Rebuild Mental Health During a War

During a full-scale war, mental health becomes part of a country’s critical infrastructure. What helps people endure, recover, and continue living is as essential as medical systems or social support networks. 

Heal Ukraine Trauma was founded in 2022 in response to an urgent need: Ukraine lacked sustainable, long-term solutions in the field of mental health. From the beginning, HUT’s focus has extended beyond immediate relief. The goal is to build foundations that will support recovery for years to come — strengthening local expertise so that Ukraine can heal itself. 

Building Capacity and Supporting Practitioners 

A core part of HUT’s work is supporting those who support others. HUT provides supervision, professional consultations, educational events, and practical skills development for Ukrainian therapists. This helps create a stable professional environment and enables specialists to work effectively despite the pressures of war. 

Veterans’ Treatment Groups 

For veterans, HUT develops Group Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (G-KAP) in partnership with Ukrainian clinics. This is a structured, multi-stage process where group dynamics, preparation, and integration work play a central role. Early results show that a combination of group format, professional guidance, and safe clinical practice creates real opportunities for veterans to move toward recovery. 

Programs for Children 

HUT implements the Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) program, supporting children who have experienced traumatic events. TRT helps reduce stress symptoms, rebuild emotional regulation, and restore the ability to learn and socialize. These groups create a supportive environment where children can process difficult experiences safely and gradually regain a sense of stability. 

Support for Women and Families 

In partnership with United Humanitarian Front, HUT runs online support groups for wives, mothers, and partners of servicemen, as well as for families whose loved ones are missing in action. These groups offer a space where participants do not need to explain the weight of their experience — they meet others who understand, and together they rebuild resilience and internal resources. 

Partnerships That Strengthen and Scale Impact 

HUT collaborates with Ukrainian clinics, civil-society organizations, and volunteer initiatives to expand access to psychological support. 
Each partnership strengthens local capacity and contributes to making these programs sustainable and available to more communities. 

When Hope Becomes a System 

HUT’s work — supporting practitioners, helping veterans, empowering children, and holding space for women — forms an interconnected network of recovery. Step by step, these efforts build an enduring mental-health ecosystem that will serve Ukraine long after the war ends. 

Hope is not an emotion. 
It is the system we build — carefully, consistently, and together.