During her visit to Ireland, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska met with representatives of JIGSAW, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health.
The President’s wife noted that, according to UNICEF, over 61% of Ukrainian parents believe their children show signs of stress and have sleep problems, while data from the Olena Zelenska Foundation show that only 30% of teenagers in Ukraine can say what career they want to pursue in the future.
“These and other figures prove that Ukrainian children are mentally exhausted and stressed due to the war unleashed by Russia. We must help them recover and support their mental well-being. In search of such solutions, I visit youth psychological centers wherever I go,” Olena Zelenska emphasized.
The First Lady also highlighted that the Foundation is currently working on launching Ukrainian “12–21” mental health spaces for adolescents.
“These are spaces for young people aged 12–21 growing up under the challenging realities of full-scale war. The spaces are meant to become safe places of trust, support, and acceptance, where anyone can come regardless of life circumstances,” the President’s wife stressed.
Olena Zelenska thanked Irish partners for the opportunity to learn from their experience in order to implement it in Ukraine.