A comprehensive mental health support system for volunteers working in the ATO/JFO zone

Abstract

From the beginning of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (АТО) in the east of Ukraine, the number of volunteers and volunteer organizations that provide assistance to the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has increased significantly. Taking into account data obtained in the process of a comprehensive examination of 97 people who were engaged in volunteer activities related to support of military in the combat zone for at least 1 year and suffered as a result of combat stress. A comprehensive system was developed of mental health support for volunteers working in the ATO zone. Monitoring of the psychological and mental state carried out during the study showed that clinical structure of post-stress disorders in the examined volunteers was represented by: adjustment disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The basis of the program was complex application of pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and psychoeducation was also used. Pharmacotherapy was based on the specificity of the levels of hormones and mediators with differentiated use of drugs. Approbation of the proposed volunteer mental health support program proved its high efficiency. Against the background of the use of the developed program, positive dynamics of the mental state, stabilization of the emotional state, reduction of anxiety and depression indicators according to the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scales were noted. According to the Scale for assessing the impact of a traumatic event, a significant decrease in the indicators on the "intrusion" and "avoidance" scales was noted. Keywords: volunteering, combat stress, mental state, complex therapy.