Mental health

As your child grows, it is likely they are spending more and more time online. There are so many positive things about being online like staying connected with friends and family, pursuing interests, and being part of communities. But it is not always a safe and positive experience for children. Here's how you can help your child maximize all the…, 1. Set clear ground rules, Have honest conversations with your children about who they communicate with and how, and who can see what they post online.  Explain that anything that goes online – pictures, videos, comments, things they share with others and what others post and share with them and about them – leaves behind a trail of information about them. To make sure they…, 2. Use technology to protect them, Check that your child’s device is always updated and running the latest software, and that privacy settings are on and configured to minimize data collection so that people don’t see any information that you don’t want them to see. Help your child learn to keep personal information private. If your privacy settings are not secure, anyone can see…, 3. Spend time with them online, Create opportunities for your child to have safe and positive online interactions with friends, family and you. Connecting with others can be an excellent opportunity for you to model kindness and empathy in virtual interactions. Help your child recognize and avoid misinformation and disinformation, age-inappropriate content and content that can…, 4. Model healthy online habits, Promote positive online behaviour by practicing it yourself. Be mindful of the example you set and what you share online about your child, including their photos and videos. Encourage your child to be kind online and to support friends and family by sending positive messages or emojis. If they have classes online, encourage them to be respectful…, 5. Let them have fun and express themselves, Spending time online can be a great opportunity for your children to be creative, learn, use their voices to share their views and support causes that are important to them. Encourage your child to use resources on the internet to help them get up and get moving, like online exercise videos for children and video games that require physical…

Life changes around pregnancy make women more vulnerable to mental illness including depression and anxiety. In Kazakhstan, nearly 60 per cent of mothers experience postpartum depression, among the highest rates recorded globally. Diana Madyraimova is a 35-year-old mother of three from Taraz, Kazakhstan who experienced postpartum anxiety and…

Since the escalation of war in February 2022 Ukraine’s children and their families have endured forced displacement, unthinkable loss and relentless violence. Over the past two years, according to UNICEF estimates of the latest available data, children in Ukraine’s frontline areas have been forced to spend between 3,000 and 5,000 hours sheltering…

Kateryna's life, as the lives of millions of Ukrainians, was turned upside down by war. She and her family are from Bucha, and they stayed for more than a year in Kyiv before fleeing to Slovakia.   “Living with air raid alerts as a constant background, I didn’t even realize I needed help,” admits Kateryna, emblemizing how people can sometimes get…

Try to imagine what it feels like to spend 5,000 hours – the equivalent of 7 months – sheltering in underground basements and metro stations. Now imagine you are a child. What does it feel like to be confined for this  length of time as air raid sirens ring above. Not knowing what might happen to your home, school and family members and friends…, Education disrupted, Across Ukraine, schools have either been damaged or destroyed by shelling or lack adequate facilities. Around 40 per cent of children across the country do not have access to continuous education. In areas nearer to the frontline, half of school-age children are unable to access continuous education. In 2023, UNICEF provided more than 1.3 million…, Schools in ruins, Nearly two years ago, Stepan and Yaroslav’s school was destroyed by shelling. Since then, schoolchildren have been trying to learn online. Yaroslav (16) stands against the background of a destroyed school, he used to study in. UNICEF/UNI510549/Pashkina "I'm afraid that younger children won't have the opportunity to receive an education and, thus,…, Shattered memories, Eight-year-old Anya stands amidst the rubble of her badly damaged school in Buzova, Ukraine. Anya and her family hid in their basement when the heavy bombardment began. Her school was hit 14 times by shells and rockets between February and March 2022. Before the war, Buzova’s school was one of the best in the Kyiv region. Around 500 children came…, All too loud, The impact of war on children’s psychological well-being are widespread. Ukraine’s children report feeling anxious, sad and disinterested in learning. They also report having excessive fears and phobias, sensitivity to loud noises and trouble sleeping.  “When we hear an air alarm, we go to the basement,” 5-year-old Maksym explains. “We go down and…, New country, new school, Ten-year-old Darya fled to Moldova with her 16-year-old brother and grandparents in the spring of 2022. For a year and a half, she and her brother have been separated from their parents, who had to remain in Odesa, Ukraine. Their grandparents are striving to ensure the siblings continue their education in Moldova. In school, Darya listens…, Building a path for children to heal, Children and families impacted by two years of war in Ukraine have shown extraordinary resilience, but without support the psychological wounds of war could scar them for life.  UNICEF has reached more than 2.5 million children and caregivers with mental health and psychosocial support to help them overcome some of the distress and challenges they…, Remembering something good, Eleven-year-old Nika misses her friends and hobbies. Her photo diary has become one of her main sources of joy. Through it she tries to capture pleasant and important childhood moments, which the ongoing war has destroyed for so many children.  Nika (11) is taking picture next to a destroyed building in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Her favourite shop used to…, Finding hope, Sisters Nelya and Lilya are in the ninth grade and, like all of Ukraine’s children have faced huge upheaval to their lives. They have become accustomed to hiding during the air raid alerts and are desperately trying to keep warm in their cold apartment. The ongoing hostilities and blackouts during fall and winter have affected their mental health…, A child-centered recovery, Ukraine’s long-term recovery depends on the recovery of children and families. Across Ukraine, UNICEF works to ensure children have access to health care, immunisation, nutrition support, protection, education, safe water and sanitation, social protection, and mental health and psychosocial support.  In 2023, UNICEF reached 8.76 million people…

There is a place in Gdansk that holds a safe space for young people – a space to talk, to get support when life gets hard, and to have fun. Blue Sneakers, run by Fosa Foundation and supported by UNICEF, is a youth community centre conveniently located in a place where young people spend time together the most at, a local shopping mall. The idea…, A second home, Young people at Blue Sneakers mention the feeling of being uprooted and the lack of constancy and control over their own lives as some of the biggest issues they struggle with in their daily lives. Having a safe place to turn to has been good for their mental health. 14-year-old Emil came to Poland in August 2022 with his mother. Before coming to…, Mental health break, Good mental health is crucial for adolescents, providing a foundation for their emotional resilience and overall development. Adolescence is a period marked by significant physical, emotional, and social changes, often making it a vulnerable time for young people. Having experienced the war and being forced to flee your country can magnify this…

Watching Masha address a conference room full of people at UNICEF office in Warsaw, you wouldn’t tell she is nervous. The 16-year-old is poised, her voice steady and commanding attention — just as when she addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September when she went there as part of UNICEF Youth Advocates Mobilisation Lab.…, Connecting with youth, The messaging tool was first launched in Poland in June 2022 with the main goal of connecting young people from Ukraine seeking shelter in Poland and other host countries, with the information necessary to safely cross the border and to set up in their new home. The chatbot — which in Poland to date has been used by some 4,000 teenagers — is free…, Keeping up with the teens and the times, But as time went by and Ukrainian youth settled into new lives in Poland, their situation and needs have changed. “This was created in June of 2022, so some of the information was becoming less relevant. For example, people who have been in Poland for a year already knew how to make a doctor’s appointment,” says Sofiya. To reflect these changes,…

“The 12-year-old boy arrived in Kapan with his grandfather and mother. They had a relative in the area where they could stay. We talked with the child while his mother was busy with the registration paperwork. He eagerly shared stories about his friends, but there was a moment of sadness when he mentioned not knowing their whereabouts. It became…

On the picturesque banks of the river in Horenka village near Kyiv, 14-year-old Nelya gazes into the distance while her 13-year-old sister Lilya braids her hair. Today, the girls have dressed in colourful vyshyvankas and come to the river to take photos and cheer themselves up. Over a year and a half into the full-scale war, days like these help…

Today, five-year-old sisters Eva and Milana have an appointment with their ‘therapist’ at a metro station in Kharkiv, a city in northeast Ukraine. The therapist is just nine years old and her name is Julie. She is a golden retriever who has been helping children in Kharkiv overcome stress since the beginning of the full-scale war. As soon as Eva…, Helping children heal, Eva and Milana arrived in Kharkiv with their parents after fleeing Kherson, where intense fighting is taking place. The girls have cats and a dog back home.  Eva misses her pets and loves to spend time with the animals at the Spilno Child Spot.  "The dog's name is Snizhok (‘ snowball’) because he is snow-white and fluffy,” she says, sadly. Eva…, Finding safety underground, Lately, the fighting in Kharkiv has become intense again. Air raid sirens sound several times a day, each time causing distress for children, who desperately need a safe place to shelter. Last night, Victoria and her seven-year-old daughter Adelina barely slept. "There was huge shelling at night,” says Victoria, who did not hesitate to come to the…, Overcoming stress and sadness, Trainer Natalia has lived in Kharkiv since the very first days of the full-scale war. While hiding in the metro with her family, she noticed how depressed the children around her were. She then came up with the idea to organise dog classes as therapy. "The first class was difficult both for me and my dogs,” she recalls. “Severe shelling occurred…

Psychologists providing mental health support to young people in Poland find that stigma can prevent them from getting help when things get hard, especially among refugees from Ukraine. “Unfortunately, many young people from Ukraine are discouraged by the word psychologist,” says Marcin Kręgiel, a psychologist working with young people in Katowice…, New perceptions , “When I was at home back in Ukraine, I never thought about going to a psychologist,” says Yulia, 15.  After fleeing to Poland with her mother, Yulia struggled with her mental health. She did not want to leave her room or speak to anyone. She thought of seeking help but was afraid of judgment and her issues not being taken seriously. She also did…, A vital conversation , “We often live in a bubble and try to have contact with other Ukrainians because it is easier to communicate,” says 17-year-old Masha. In my group, when they talked about psychologists, it was only to make fun of it. I did that too, although deep down I wondered if maybe it was something I should try.”  Masha really wanted to talk to someone about…

Establishing a connection with your teen is the basis for effectively supporting their mental well-being and social and emotional learning. When we love someone, we are interested in them and in their thoughts and feelings. As your child grows, communication is one way of showing your love and respect for your growing child.  , Build on your relationship, 1. Show an interest in what is important to your child to show you care. 2. Share things about yourself and find ways to make connections and identify shared interests. 3. Ask your child about their opinions, views and perspectives so that you can understand their feelings. 4. Build on the communication you had with your teen when they were…, Be an active listener, Active listening is important when interacting with your child. An active listener is engaged, caring, non-judgmental and empathetic, even when (and especially when) they don’t agree with others’ views. While some of your teen’s beliefs or opinions may differ from your own, you need to respect and value their views. This will also help them to…