A New Mental Health Center 'POVERNENNYA' Opens in Zhytomyr for Military Personnel and Veterans

The city of Zhytomyr has witnessed the grand opening of a new mental health center called 'POVERNENNYA', specifically designed to provide support for military personnel, veterans, and their families. This center marks the twelfth addition to a comprehensive national network initiated by philanthropists Viktor and Olena Pinchuk, aimed at offering mental health assistance to individuals who have suffered psychological trauma as a result of the ongoing conflict.

Located in Zhytomyr, the 'POVERNENNYA' center aims to deliver free and professional psychological support to over 4,000 service members, veterans, and their families each year. The center is open to anyone facing the repercussions of psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depressive disorders, adaptation difficulties, and other consequences stemming from traumatic experiences.

Viktor Pinchuk, the founder of the 'POVERNENNYA' project, emphasized the significance of establishing such centers: "My wife Olena and I are building a network of 'POVERNENNYA' centers with the understanding that our heroes on the front lines are under immense psychological pressure. We must assist them in returning to normal life as effectively as possible. Addressing the mental health of military personnel, veterans, and their families should be an absolute priority for the state. We see that this approach works, and the private sector can be a powerful partner in this endeavor." He also noted that "more than 10,000 of our heroes, veterans, and their family members are already receiving care at 'POVERNENNYA' centers."

The 'POVERNENNYA' project exemplifies effective collaboration between the private sector and the state, as donors establish mental health centers within public medical institutions. The new Zhytomyr center has been opened on the premises of the former regional medical consulting and diagnostic center located at 1 Viktor Kosenko Street. All facilities within the center have been equipped in accordance with modern accessibility standards.

The Zhytomyr 'POVERNENNYA' center features rooms for individual and family therapy, a group therapy hall, a two-bed day hospital room with medical functional beds, a treatment room, a reception area with a waiting zone, as well as staff facilities. The space is fully inclusive, with wide doorways, no thresholds, and adapted sanitary facilities for wheelchair users.

Additionally, the center is equipped with modern technology, including the Shiftwave System (USA) for psychological unloading, an EMDR therapy kit, computer equipment for specialists, materials for art therapy, anti-stress tools, and resources for body practices. The team has also been provided with a professional library containing literature on psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy.

As with other centers in the 'POVERNENNYA' network, visitors will work with a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals. The team at the Zhytomyr center includes psychiatrists, a psychologist, clinical psychologists, a psychotherapist, a social worker, a senior nurse, a nurse, and a junior medical worker. This approach allows for comprehensive assistance that takes into account the clinical, psychological, and social needs of each individual.

Alona Tsvetkova, the head of the 'POVERNENNYA' mental health center in Zhytomyr, remarked: "The opening of the 'POVERNENNYA' center today is particularly timely, as prolonged stress and traumatic experiences significantly impact military personnel, veterans, and their families. Timely professional help is not just support; it is also a tool for maintaining mental resilience, restoring functionality, and preventing complications in the future. We are grateful to Viktor and Olena Pinchuk for creating opportunities for systemic support of mental health and for the ongoing educational opportunities for our team specialists."

The goal of the 'POVERNENNYA' project extends beyond providing psychological recovery; it aims to systematically develop the mental health sector in Ukraine. Since the project's launch in 2025, nearly 100 educational events have been conducted within 14 educational programs, involving over 1,500 specialists from both the 'POVERNENNYA' network and beyond. Furthermore, the project has organized international internships in two countries: Ireland and the United Kingdom.

In addition to Zhytomyr, the network of 'POVERNENNYA' mental health centers is already operational in Dnipro, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Ternopil, Rivne, Lutsk, Khmelnytskyi, Poltava, and Ivano-Frankivsk. In the initial phase of the project, its founders, Viktor and Olena Pinchuk, plan to expand the network to 25 centers.

For those seeking assistance, the contact information for the 'POVERNENNYA' mental health center is as follows: Zhytomyr, 1 Viktor Kosenko Street, email: zhytomyr@povernennya.org, website: https://povernennya.org.