During her working visit to Japan, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska met with the staff of the Shibuya Himawari Psychological Assistance Center for Ukrainians and the University of Tokyo Hospital. She also spoke with individuals currently receiving assistance there.
The Shibuya Himawari Center was established immediately after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion to provide psychological support for Ukrainians who found refuge in Japan. Today, around 1,500 people are registered there, and in total, over 6,000 Ukrainians have received support at the center.
The National Association of Mental Health Professionals of Japan also supports people remaining in Ukraine – offering online consultations, on-the-ground assistance, regular experience-sharing with Ukrainian professionals, and hosting training sessions, workshops, and symposiums.
Olena Zelenska thanked the Head of the Association and the Director of Shibuya Himawari Center, Mariko Ukiyo, for her personal visit to Ukraine earlier this year, during which she trained Ukrainian psychologists in art therapy techniques.
“Japan is one of the few countries with deep experience in crisis preparedness and population support in emergency situations. The culture of respect for vulnerability and the sense of responsibility for collective safety are highly developed here. Every challenge is met with a response rooted in both medicine and culture,” the First Lady said.
She emphasized that Ukraine is also sharing its own experience with Japan in this field. A series of animated videos from the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “How Are You?” – focused on stress management and self-help techniques – will be showcased at EXPO 2025, currently underway in Tokyo, and in schools across Japan.
Olena Zelenska also visited the University of Tokyo Hospital, which hosts a Recovery Center for patients transitioning out of the acute phase of treatment in the neuropsychiatry department. The center provides assistance to individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders, combining physical activity, psychotherapy, and elements of social training.
“Today I’m visiting a place that could serve as an important example for Ukraine. At the same time, after years of implementing the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program, we’re now in a position to share our own experience – one gained in extreme, wartime conditions,” she noted.
The First Lady spoke about the creation in Ukraine of 279 Resilience Centers and a network of 200 specialized mental health centers within hospitals, as well as the integration of mental health care into the work of over 2,000 primary health care facilities.
“Every country forges its own path to mental health, but when we manage to combine the best practices, it makes everyone stronger,” Olena Zelenska concluded.