Mental health can affect children and young people and can leave a permanent mark — even into adult life.
Through our programmes we have been working to support children affected by war and children at risk.
Teens are often the most overlooked in crisis. Expected to be “old enough to cope,” many silently carry trauma, poverty, and displacement. Since the war began, rates of anxiety, depression, and PTSD among Ukrainian adolescents have risen sharply (UNICEF).
Without intervention, far too many risk becoming a “lost generation.”
How the Finding Steady Ground Program Makes a Difference
Our Finding Steady Ground program gives Ukrainian adolescents a chance to rebuild emotional stability through psychological and social support.
By combining what we already emphasise in our work — individual mentoring, group therapy, community support — with proven models like this, we can help:
- Provide safe, caring spaces (online or in person) where teens can share their experiences and feelings.
- Offer structured sessions led by trained psychologists or social workers, giving them coping tools.
- Rebuild trust, hope and resilience — so that trauma doesn’t define their entire future.
- Support mental well-being as well as social and educational reintegration.
Why This Support Is Critical
- According to a 2024 survey of young Ukrainians aged 14 to 34, 73% said they needed emotional or psychological support, yet only about 30% sought help — highlighting a huge gap between need and access (UNICEF).
- Recent studies and humanitarian reports show many children and teens in war-affected areas are experiencing psychosocial distress: anxiety, fear, depression, behavioural problems, sleep issues, nightmares, and sometimes even physical manifestations like tics or speech difficulties (Save the Children UK).
- Ongoing conflict, displacement, and disruption of community and schooling add additional layers of stress — loss of home, friends, stability, and sense of safety.
Will you stand with them today?
Every day, a teenager wakes up wondering if life will ever feel normal again. You can be the reason they believe it will.
Your gift will fund one-on-one and group sessions that teach coping tools, calm anxiety, and restore hope.