Georgia: Alexander Vinikov, Head of the NATO Union Office, spoke at the opening of the research working meeting on September 10, 2024, titled “Digital tools for the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of traumatic stress in terror and war – modern practices and new insights.”
The meeting will specifically focus on developing and implementing digital mental health tools such as mobile applications, online platforms, and virtual reality simulations, which have the potential to revolutionize the way we address mental health in war-affected populations.
The event, of significant importance, is supported by the NATO program “Science for Peace and Security” (SPS) and implemented by the Medical Center of Leiden University (Netherlands) and the Civil Council of Defense and Security (Georgia). It aims to determine the structure and content of a digital mental health tool for war-affected populations. It is based on a research working meeting held in Odesa, Ukraine, in 2018.
In today’s world, where war, conflict, and terror are unfortunately very characteristic of modern life, society faces the urgent challenge of understanding and coping with the impact of traumatic events on those affected. Russia’s war against Ukraine has destroyed peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic space and significantly impacted the safety and well-being of billions of people around the world,” the head of the office said.
He said, “The war has had a devastating impact on the health and well-being of the Ukrainian nation, leading to high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.” “This war also demonstrated the importance of resilience and effective psychological support for fighters and non-fighters.”
The SPS-supported event has served as a crucial platform for fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge. It brought together experts from NATO and partner countries (including Georgia, Ukraine, and Israel) who, with their dedicated efforts and contributions, spent three days exploring modern practices, sharing experiences and lessons learned, and introducing new insights to the field.
