The Third RETURNING Mental Health Center Opens in Poltava

A RETURNING mental health center for military personnel, veterans, and their family members has opened in Poltava. This is the third center of the nationwide RETURNING (Ukr. «ПОВЕРНЕННЯ») network, founded by Victor and Olena Pinchuk to support the mental health of people who have experienced psychological trauma as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

More than 4,000 Ukrainian defenders and their family members will be able to receive high-quality psychological support at the Poltava RETURNING center every year.

The RETURNING project demonstrates a successful partnership between the private sector and the state, with philanthropists establishing mental health centers at public healthcare facilities. As part of the project, a comfortable, modern, and barrier-free space has been created at one of Poltava’s leading healthcare facilities, where military personnel, veterans, and their families can receive comprehensive psychological support.

“Mental health during wartime is a matter of national resilience. Military personnel, veterans, and their families face challenges every day that require not only courage, but also systematic psychological support. Through the RETURNING project, we are creating centers where care is based on effective approaches and collaboration among specialists from different fields. Our educational component is also of great importance: thanks to it, all members of multidisciplinary teams continuously improve their qualifications, receive supervision, and exchange experience. All of this enables us to provide the highest standard of care to our defenders and their families,” said Svitlana Hrytsenko, Head of the RETURNING project.

The Poltava RETURNING center fully meets accessibility requirements. It features wide doorways, no thresholds, medical-grade anti-slip linoleum flooring, and restrooms adapted for wheelchair users. RETURNING mental health centers are designed as psychologically inclusive spaces where anyone can seek support without fear of judgment or stigma. An atmosphere of trust and respect for patients’ privacy is an integral part of the work of the network’s specialists.

The center has everything necessary for comfortable visits and professional work: a convenient reception area with a waiting zone, rooms for individual, family, and psychiatric support, a spacious group therapy room, a day hospital room with an accessible restroom, a treatment room, as well as staff and equipment storage facilities.

The center is equipped with everything necessary for high-quality care, including computer equipment, a multimedia projector and screen, the Shiftwave System (USA) for psychological relaxation and stress management, art therapy materials, psychological board games, metaphorical associative cards, yoga mats, and other tools. Specialists have also been provided with a selection of professional publications on psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy.

The Poltava RETURNING center’s multidisciplinary team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, and nurses, social workers, and veteran support specialistswhen needed. This approach ensures comprehensive support — from initial counseling to long-term therapy and social adaptation.

“It is important to us that people who seek help feel trust and safety from the very first minutes. We work with a range of conditions, from acute stress to post-traumatic disorders, and each time we are reminded that recovery is possible. It is a process that requires patience, support, and faith in oneself. The most important thing is that a person should not be left alone with their pain. When there is a team nearby that not only treats but also listens, even the most difficult experiences can gradually become something a person can work through and let go of,” said Yuliia Rakhmatova, Head of the Poltava RETURNING Center.

The center’s specialists use evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy, Gestalt therapy, trauma-focused therapy, stabilization and self-regulation techniques, group therapy, and crisis counseling. Particular attention is paid to creating a safe environment, providing empathetic care, and supporting the gradual restoration of patients’ psychological resilience.

RETURNING mental health centers provide free support to military personnel, veterans, and their family members. At the first stage of the RETURNING project, 20–25 mental health centers are planned to open across Ukraine. Every year, they will be able to provide professional support to more than 100,000 military personnel and their family members.