“Dobrobut” to Provide Psychological Support to Women Affected by the War

The medical network “Dobrobut” has become a partner of GIDNA — a project offering free professional psychological assistance to women affected by the war, initiated by the charitable foundation Future for Ukraine. The team of the Mental Health Center will provide psychiatric consultations to project participants who require comprehensive support to overcome the consequences of traumatic experiences.

GIDNA psychologists work with women who have survived or witnessed sexual violence, captivity, loss, or the disappearance of loved ones. Many suffer from depression, burnout, PTSD, and distress caused by ambiguous loss — a condition in which the absence of information about a loved one’s fate leads to deep emotional instability.

“There is a stigma in society: ‘No one will help me, no one needs me with this grief, I’ll go through it alone.’ But when women come to us, we see how much there is to work through. The first stage of our work is stabilizing the woman’s condition, normalizing emotions, and rebuilding her inner resilience,” explains Anna Hrubaia, head of the GIDNA project.

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian law enforcement has recorded 372 cases of conflict-related sexual violence. However, the actual number of such crimes is much higher. Out of fear and mistrust of the system, many victims do not seek help. Raising awareness and encouraging women not to face their pain alone is one of GIDNA’s goals, as only in this way can each woman — and the nation as a whole — begin to heal.

Over more than two years of operation, the GIDNA team has received requests from 173 women, including 108 cases of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and 65 cases of ambiguous loss. The number of requests for help continues to grow. In just the first nine months of 2025, 602 CRSV sessions and 452 ambiguous loss sessions were conducted. Each woman can receive 20 free individual sessions (CRSV) and 16 free individual sessions (ambiguous loss). The participants’ ages range from 18 to 78.

“Unfortunately, the war has brought many traumatic experiences that are difficult to discuss even with loved ones. We understand how important it is for women who have endured sexual violence or loss of relatives to receive professional psychological support in a safe and trusting environment. That’s why supporting such initiatives is vital for us — to help women regain their inner strength and faith in life. Of course, we guarantee full confidentiality. At ‘Dobrobut,’ adherence to ethical standards and protection of personal data are our professional norms,” says Oleksandra Mashkevych, Medical Director of the “Dobrobut” medical network.

“Three years ago, we launched the GIDNA project. Women need not only social and economic support but also psychological. This became a new chapter in our work. We see that rebuilding Ukraine’s future and helping women recover are crucial tasks,” says Olena Nikolaienko, President of Future for Ukraine in the USA.