Digital applications as tools for psychological adaptation of citizens to changes

Abstract

Due to the military aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, citizens experience acute stress, other mental and emotional burdens, and mental disorders. Digital technologies can serve as a tool to improve mental health and psychological support for citizens, especially for those who have limited access to direct contact with a psychotherapist, by developing applications for psychological adaptation and maintaining mental balance. The purpose of the study is to determine the availability and optimal content of mobile applications for the mental health and psychological balance of Ukrainians. A search and analysis of existing solutions in the category of E-MentalHealth (digital services for mental health) in Ukraine and other countries was conducted. An empirical study of their features was conducted, and a proposal for optimal content for mobile applications as auxiliary tools for working with a psychotherapist specialist or for providing psychological assistance to citizens during martial law was formed. To assess the need for such applications, a survey, “My psychological state in the evacuation”, was conducted among respondents outside the country. The online questionnaire “Ukrainians and digital services” was used to determine the most important features among the list of formed offers for optimal application content. It was attended mainly by young people who remained in the country during the military aggression. The results confirmed the need for mobile applications for mental health and psychological assistance among Ukrainian citizens, including those who stayed in the country during the war and those who were evacuated to other countries. Recommendations are given for mandatory features that can be considered technical requirements for developing or improving a multifunctional application in the category of E-Mental-Health