Pilot peer-to-peer project within the mental health care system of Ukraine

Peer-to-peer counseling is a pilot project within Ukraine’s public psychiatric care system.

The pilot is being implemented as part of the DAISI Ukraine project, carried out by our partners — the Ukrainian Psychiatric Association in collaboration with the Institute of Psychiatry of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, with support from Queen Mary University of London.

One of the project’s consultants is Anastasiia Deviatova, a client and Psychability board member. She works in a mobile multidisciplinary team at the Mental Health Center of Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 18.

Before beginning their work, all consultants completed specialized joint training. This training included both civilians and veterans who have their own lived experience of navigating mental health disorders.

👥 What is the peer-to-peer approach?

It is an approach in which support is provided by someone who has their own lived experience of a mental health disorder. The idea behind this format is that shared experience can build a foundation of trust between the client and the consultant.

The goal of involving peer-to-peer consultants is to promote independent living for people with mental health disorders.

Such a consultant does not replace a psychiatrist or psychologist but complements their work. They share their own experience of living with a mental health condition and navigating the psychiatric care system, helping others better understand the treatment process.