The purpose of the trip was to establish practical cooperation in the framework of the establishment of the Veterans Mental Health and Care Excellence Centre (VMHCE) in Ukraine, which is being implemented in partnership with FGIP and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
During the meeting with the team of the Vilnius Municipal Mental Health Centre (VASAROS Hospital), we discussed opportunities for sharing experience and supporting the VMHCE initiative.
We are sincerely grateful to the Director of the Centre, Martinas Martinkevičius, and the Deputy Director for Management and Infrastructure, Vidmantas Eigelis, for their openness to cooperation and the extremely important decision to donate furniture in excellent condition to equip the future Ukrainian Centre.
This gesture is a clear manifestation of solidarity and will help make the new space more comfortable, cosy and functional for veterans and their families. The Centre project is extremely important for Ukraine. It will be the first example of integration of clinical practice, research, international approaches to mental health and systematic training of specialists.
The Centre will be located at the Institute of Psychiatry of the Kyiv National University and will have an ambitious goal of becoming a model centre of support, rehabilitation and recovery for Ukrainian defenders, as well as a platform for the development of an innovative system of assistance to veterans across the country.
We believe that by working together – with the participation of international partners, Ukrainian scientists, doctors, engineers and donors – we will be able to create a truly effective space that meets the highest international standards.
We thank FGIP, the VASAROS Clinic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, our engineering and design team, and everyone who works hard to implement this important project every day.