Support groups for wives and mothers of military personnel
‍These are not therapy groups, but support meetings moderated by psychologists. The purpose of such meetings is to introduce women to each other for mutual support and to provide methods and techniques that help to improve general physical and mental health in various emotional states.

Our experience shows that a series of meetings, one meeting in a week, is enough to achieve this goal. At meetings a person can be yourself, show different emotions not being afraid of judgment, because all participants have similar experiences. Breathing is easier when you're with your tribe. Here a person can speak, or can stay silent. They can stay or you can leave when it feels enough. Everything is democratic, but at the same time well-structured.

Meetings are held online via Zoom platform once a week and last two hours. The groups are accompanied by professional psychologists who have extensive experience in conducting support groups. Therefore, in addition to the mutual support of participants, a person will be able to receive support from specialists. Since we want to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, please fill out this short questionnaire.

Support groups are held with the financial support of the European Union. Their content is the exclusive responsibility of the CIVIL ORGANIZATION PUBLIC MOVEMENT FOR EMPOWERING WOMEN IN UKRAINE and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

You can read the stories of the participants and their experience in support groups in the blog on our website by following the links:
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Difficulties of adaptation: what challenges families of military personnel face after defenders return home — a story told by a wife of a serviceman

«I found my support network». The story of a wife of a serviceman, a psychologist, who became a member of a support group

«I see the same in their eyes» —Oksana Sydorenko about her participation in the support group for wives of serviceme

«I know how to calm people, but I can't do it to myself». The story of a woman who is waiting for her man from the war

«I decided that I will support the decision of my son and husband». The story of a member of a support group‍

«Here I felt that I was understood» — A wife of a serviceman tells about her participation in a support group‍

«I found my support island» — A story about importance of communication with wives of military personnel in support groups

From May to October 2023, the hotline will be operated within the framework of the Stiykist’ Programme - the project funded by the European Union and implemented by Equal Rights and Independent Media (ERIM) in partnership with the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, the East Europe Foundation, Human Rights House Foundation, andHuman Rights House Tbilisi. The project is aimed to strengthen civil society organizations (CSOs) and individual activists affected by the war in Ukraine, including independent media and human rights defenders.

From June to December 2022, the hotline was operated within the framework of the «EU Emergency Support 4 Civil Society» project, which is being implemented by ISAR «Ednannia» with the financial support of the European Union. Its content is the exclusive responsibility of the CIVIL ORGANIZATION PUBLIC MOVEMENT FOR EMPOWERING WOMEN IN UKRAINE and does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union.