Communities in Chernihiv Oblast face acute needs in psychosocial support, child protection, and education. In the Menska and Prylutsky communities, there is a strong demand for accessible professional psychological assistance for adults, families of military personnel, and rural residents, as well as for systematic outreach by specialists to remote settlements. Amid intensified shelling in recent months, chronic stress, anxiety, and exhaustion are on the rise, increasing the need for spaces for emotional recovery and efforts to overcome stigma around seeking help. Combining psychological and legal support with clear pathways and step-by-step guidance is essential.
These findings come from the study “Regional Needs Assessment” conducted by the NGO Ukrainian Educational Platform in cooperation with the Network of Support Centers and funded by the Dutch humanitarian organization Kerk in Actie. The assessment was carried out in October–November 2025, reports Humanitarian Media Hub.
In the area of child protection, key priorities remain safe leisure spaces, accessible creative and sports activities, and qualified psychological assistance for younger children and those living in families facing difficult life circumstances. The study emphasizes the need to support parents through counseling, emotional assistance, and educational resources, as well as to ensure basic services — medical care, temporary childcare, and organized children’s spaces in communities without schools or kindergartens.
Educational needs focus on equipping shelters that can serve simultaneously as protective, learning, and psychologically supportive spaces, as well as ensuring access to education in villages. Development programs for younger schoolchildren, quality conditions for physical development, strengthening human resources (teachers, trainers, psychologists), professional development adapted to the wartime context, and systematic burnout prevention for those working daily with children and families are all critical.
The study shows that in the two communities examined, psychosocial needs are particularly acute: chronic stress and uncertainty combine with a lack of accessible psychological and legal services, especially in rural areas. Children’s needs demonstrate an inseparable link between safety, development, and protection — from shelters and leisure spaces to psychological assistance and parental support.
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