DAISI Ukraine Project — “Development and Integration of Community-Based Mobile Mental Health Services in Ukraine”

The DAISI Ukraine project (Developing and Integrating Community Mental Health Services in Ukraine) commenced in June 2025 with a scheduled duration of four years. The project is implemented through a partnership between Queen Mary University of London and the Institute of Psychiatry of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, with the participation of London South Bank University and the Ukrainian Psychiatric Association.

The project aims to facilitate the establishment of an effective, modern community-based care system for individuals with mental disorders in Ukraine through the development of mobile multidisciplinary teams (MMTs).

Project participants include individuals aged 18 to 65 who are capable of providing informed consent for participation.

Two representatives from our organization have been involved in the project's development since its inception. Within the framework of DAISI Ukraine, we serve not only as subjects of study but as co-researchers and co-designers. Our lived experience, personal insights, and the terminology we use directly influence the research questions, the methodologies applied, and the ultimate outcomes of the project.

At the launch of the project, Professor Iryna Pinchuk and Dr. Semen Gluzman, together with international experts in human rights and service-user involvement, established the SUPER Group. Lidiia Martynova, Chair of the Board of the NGO "Psychability," is a member of this advisory body.

Between late September 2025 and late January 2026, the SUPER Group held approximately ten working sessions. The group’s activities focused on ensuring the meaningful and ethical engagement of individuals with lived experience in the project's implementation, as well as providing high-quality feedback for integration into research and project-related decisions.

A key focus of the group involved consulting on qualitative research methodologies. During these discussions, SUPER Group members repeatedly highlighted the limitations of relying exclusively on digital data collection tools and the associated risks of losing depth and contextual nuance in responses. Conversely, the group emphasized the value of qualitative interviews, face-to-face meetings, and open-ended questions, which allow for a more profound understanding of user experiences and ensure their needs are prioritized in future project planning. The activities of the SUPER Group provided not only expert consultancy but also established a practical foundation for broader stakeholder engagement and further project development in 2026.

The development model for mobile multidisciplinary teams is based on an evidence-based scientific framework with a realistic approach to budgeting. A critical component is the integration of individuals with their own recovery experience into the MMTs, following the "peer-to-peer" principle. This approach ensures that care is more person-centered and effective.

Under the scope of the project, existing MMTs in Ukraine will be evaluated, enhanced, and refined. The final output will be the implementation of a national service specification — the National Standard.