The Helping Hand in Ukraine: Feasibility and Potential Impact

Overview

Journal Pilot Feasibility Stud

Publisher Biomed Central

Date 2024 Jul 2

PMID 38951948

Authors

Solfrid Raknes

Tetiana Chorna

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: New services are needed to prevent the mental health consequences of the war in Ukraine. Ten adolescents self-recruited to use and evaluate the Ukrainian version of the Helping Hand (HH) in Odesa, Ukraine. From April to June 2023, they participated in a 10-session group program where they played the cognitive behavioral game app, shared stories, and engaged in activities to enhance their coping skills.

Methods: A mixed-method, quantitative-qualitative design was used to get insight into the feasibility and potential impact of the HH on Ukrainian adolescents' mental health and well-being during the war. A questionnaire to the adolescents assessed the feasibility of the intervention; anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention by a standardized and validated adolescent-completed questionnaire. An interview with the psychologist who implemented the intervention was used to interpret the data completed by the adolescents.

Results: Eight of 10 adolescents completed the HH intervention, and the psychologist found the HH helpful and culturally appropriate. The average anxiety and depression symptoms decreased from before the intervention (M = 20.4) to after (M = 15.0), showing a moderate effect size.

Conclusion: The results indicated that the HH has a high potential to prevent mental health consequences in Ukraine.

Citing Articles

Digital Mental Health Interventions for Adolescents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Scoping Review.

Wani C, McCann L, Lennon M, Radu C J Med Internet Res. 2024; 26:e51376.

PMID: 39471371 PMC: 11558223. DOI: 10.2196/51376.

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