TRT: How Children Experiencing Trauma Can Learn Coping Skills

Ukrainian children have had their lives upended by the ongoing war. Most have experienced traumatic events: the loss of loved ones, separation from family and friends, destruction of homes, the terror of ongoing Russian missile strikes. Providing coping skills is one of the most urgent ways to help now, so that children don’t retain the effects of trauma throughout their lives.

Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT), an evidence-based program developed by the nonprofit Children and War Foundation, helps children in conflict areas process traumatic stress. It has been actively used in Ukraine since 2014. TRT addresses the early stages of trauma, preventing mental health issues from intensifying. 

Last year, HUT partnered with the NGO All-Ukrainian Public Center to deliver this program to over 640 children. The 5-week, two-hour sessions teach mind-body techniques to help with stress management and trauma processing. 91% of children who participated reported that the program was useful, and an overwhelming majority showed improvement on standard mental health assessments at the end of the program. In 2024, we hope to reach even more children.

Building on this success, HUT is aiming to adapt the TRT curriculum for children with disabilities, who need customized care. We are also supporting a randomized, controlled trial in Ukraine to assess the effectiveness of adding a parenting module to the TRT program. This trial is being conducted by researchers from Queen Mary University in the UK and Ternopil University in Ukraine. Of 4500 children screened for the trial, 40% have above-threshold PTSD symptoms, reinforcing the critical need for programs like this.

HUT needs support to expand this important program for Ukraine’s children. If you’re able to give, please donate today or contact us about sponsoring this program.