Early Career Professionals in Ukraine:
Building Capacity in Mental Health Research and Practice

Professor Irina Pinchuk, Ukrainian Psychiatry Association, President

On April 17, within the framework of the XI Annual Conference of the Ukrainian Psychiatric Association "Mental Health in Ukraine: Management in Times of War, Planning for Peace," the symposium "Youth in Science and Practice of Mental Health" was held. The event focused on the role of early career professionals in advancing modern psychiatry and implementing new approaches in clinical practice and research.

The symposium brought together interns, PhD students, clinicians, and researchers from different regions of Ukraine. Presentations addressed key aspects of scientific training, working with evidence-based sources, research design, as well as contemporary clinical and digital approaches in mental health care. A panel discussion was also held, focusing on the development of the early career professionals’ community, interprofessional collaboration, and opportunities for joint initiatives.

An important component of the conference was the e-poster session, which featured more than 20 early career professionals. The presented studies covered a broad range of topics related to mental health in the context of war, including grief and trauma among families of military personnel, PTSD, cognitive and affective disorders, obsessive-compulsive and dissociative conditions, neurobiological aspects of mental health, psychotherapeutic interventions, digital solutions, and the organization of mental health care services.

Legal and economics professionals also participated in the session, contributing research focused on the legal, economic, and systemic aspects of the organization and accessibility of mental health care.

Ukrainian early career professionals express their gratitude to the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) for its support and for providing opportunities for professional development and international collaboration.