First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska participated in an event at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, focusing on mental health issues.

In her speech, the President's wife shared insights into the development of the National Mental Health Program, initiated in response to the psychological challenges faced by Ukrainians due to Russian aggression.

According to the First Lady, the main goal of the program is to bring psychological help closer to the people. Over 120,000 Ukrainian family doctors have completed WHO training, and more than 300 resilience centers are currently operational. Schools have introduced 'Happiness Lessons' to teach children about emotional understanding and provide necessary support.

'We launched an information campaign to change public perception: caring for mental health is not shameful but a responsible act. The result: in 2022, 46% of Ukrainians expressed they would never seek a psychologist, whereas now that number has decreased to 22%,' noted Olena Zelenska.

The First Lady emphasized that mental health is a global challenge, equally as crucial as poverty, climate change, or rising costs.

'At the 77th World Health Assembly, together with the Netherlands, we initiated a resolution that establishes mental health as a key priority during and after emergencies. This is based on our experience, and we hope it contributes to global resilience,' added the President's wife.

Addressing the international community, the First Lady urged everyone to prioritize mental health.

'Make it a part of daily life and care. It is not a luxury; it is a matter of survival and future for every nation. We know this for sure,' concluded Olena Zelenska.