Ukrainian firefighters and Brave Minds programme
A UK charity is seeking monthly donations to expand mental health support for Ukrainian firefighters and other emergency responders through its in-country programme Brave Minds.
Fire Aid and International Development said Brave Minds was launched a year ago in response to widespread psychological harm among Ukrainian rescuers after years of continuous service with no dedicated independent mental health provision available.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SESU) operates with approximately 60,000 personnel.
Since February 2022, Ukrainian rescuers have worked under conditions described as repeated bombardment of civilian infrastructure, sustained operations in active combat zones and chronic exposure to mass fatality incidents.
Support model and what donors are being asked to do
The programme currently provides one-to-one online therapy, round-the-clock crisis support and self-help resources, delivered by qualified Ukrainian psychologists and offered free of charge.
FIRE AID said it is asking members of the public to contribute £3 a month to support the expansion of the project as it enters its second year and aims to reach every Ukrainian region.
Edward Matthews, Project Manager for Brave Minds, said: “Rescuers are asking for help, often after extremely difficult incidents.
“Small, regular donations allow us to provide stable, long-term care.
“If thousands of people give the price of a coffee each month, we can support rescuers across the entire country.”
Casualties, damage and contact details
FIRE AID said that since 2022 it has delivered 155 fire trucks and over 350,000 items of equipment to SESU, and that direct work with rescuers led it to recognise that physical resources alone were insufficient.
Viktoria Kryvolapchuk, Lead Psychologist for Brave Minds, said: “Since 2022, 113 rescuers have been killed, 577 injured, and 458 fire stations have been destroyed.
“We need to ensure our rescuers are mentally fit to work because the fire service is an essential part of civil defence.
“And whether in war or peace, there is no end in sight to the psychological burden they carry.”
FIRE AID said donors are invited to leave a short message that is shared with rescuers during a therapy session.