When Russia invaded Ukraine, the everyday life of millions of people was shattered. For Kateryna Serdiuk, it meant the end of a civilian life in Kyiv, and the beginning of work that today helps thousands of field medics to persevere amidst the war.
Before 24 February 2022, Kateryna Serdiuk lived an ordinary life in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. Together with a colleague, she worked in the event industry, organising events and conferences for large companies and their employees. Through this work, the duo gained valuable knowledge, not only in creating a good atmosphere in workplaces but also insights into proactive work regarding mental challenges and burnout among staff. Issues that became recurrent during the COVID years.
– In hindsight, it almost sounds silly when talking about the problems we had then, compared to now, says Kateryna Serdiuk, founder of Repower.
With the large-scale invasion, life changed drastically. Kateryna, like thousands of others, turned to humanitarian work, helping with everything from evacuations of people to deliveries of food and supplies. There, she could also leverage her contacts from her professional life.
But as days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, Kateryna noticed a shift. Autumn came to Ukraine, and the realisation that the war could be prolonged began to slowly but surely take hold.
– You could see that people were exhausted and became almost resistant to communication. We thought the war would be over in a few weeks. It was completely crazy to think otherwise. We were so naive.
Autumn turned into winter, and the cold set in. In conjunction with this, Kateryna and her colleagues began to consider what efforts they could undertake to help volunteers at the front. A meal or a moment away from the fighting could make a big difference.
As Kateryna organised her volunteer work more and more, the idea of scaling up the efforts also grew. They realised they had resources for an additional initiative.
– Okay, who else can we help? Maybe the field doctors? They save lives, and if we can help them with their mental health, they can save even more lives in the future. So we eventually gathered around 100 people, including military doctors and medics, psychologists, volunteers working at the frontline, and employees of Ukrainian Railways working in harsh environments and supporting evacuations, Kateryna explains.
The group already had contacts in Sweden, including Sebastian Lindström, with whom they had collaborated on previous charity projects in Ukraine. Travelling abroad, or all the way to the Nordics, was not something planned but rather a result of chance and networking. The first trip's destination was Sweden, and eighteen trips later, the group is back once again.
– In hindsight, it seems like it was a good decision to come here, says Kateryna Serdiuk.
Between 2022-2026, the organisation has helped over 1,500 doctors and field medics manage stress, mental illness, and PTSD. The opportunity to leave the front, change environment, and even change country can be invaluable for those otherwise living in constant and direct danger. Besides Sweden, they have also had the opportunity to travel to Denmark and Spain.
Each trip lasts two weeks. With travel days excluded, this means about ten days at each destination. The programme consists of both training and activities. Mental training, breathing exercises, and conversations with psychologists are examples of the former, while activities can range from museum visits to climbing, chess, or go-karting.
– It is mandatory for our participants to learn stress management and other tools, as the hope is that they can apply the knowledge back at the front. At the same time, we have a wide variety of activities so that something suits everyone. Some seek adrenaline, others may want to paint. We try to find a balance that provides stimulation and can counteract exhaustion or awaken feelings that have become numb. When serving, one often lives in one's own bubble, and it can be difficult to get out of it.
Kateryna highlights the importance of creating routines around mental exercises, but also the challenges in getting reserved individuals to open up. The Soviet legacy remains in Ukraine in several ways, not least in the view of mental illness.
– There is a stigma around mental health in Ukraine. During Soviet times, it was seen as a punishment to receive treatment for one's mental health or illness. An important part of our work is therefore to teach participants to first be open to treatment, and ultimately to take care of themselves.
Repower is a non-profit organisation and is thus dependent on support and donations from external actors. Today, they have established collaborations with several Swedish companies and organisations, as well as support from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency.
If you could address Swedish and Nordic actors, how would you like to reach out to them?
– I often hear that Ukraine is not only defending our own country but also Europe. It's heartwarming to hear. At the same time, it feels like the responsibility in practice largely falls on us, and that we need help. If we succeed in strengthening the mental health and resilience of medics and doctors, we can save more people at the frontline. It's really that simple. If companies, partners, or local communities in Sweden want to invest in mental health for medics, who in practice are the glue of society, then it means that Ukraine can hold out longer and win this war, says Kateryna Serdiuk.