Maryna left her home with her 4-month-old baby due to physical abuse from her husband. When she returned to collect her belongings, her husband and his relatives refused to let her in, so the police were called.
The police reached out to the Vyshhorod Psychosocial Support Mobile Team for further assistance. The team stabilized Maryna and her child’s emotional state, created a safety plan, explained the steps to take in case of repeated violence, and referred her to a specialist in managing domestic and gender-based violence cases.
"I was impressed by Maryna's courage. Because leaving with a 4-month-old baby is not an easy step. She is an example that breaking the circle of violence is possible, no matter how difficult the situation is. A new life for herself and her child is worth the decision to make a change and seek help," said Tetiana Rostovska, a psychologist with the mobile team.
Today, Maryna feels much better. She has restored her and her child’s mental health and has no desire to return to her abuser. She has filed for divorce and is awaiting the court’s decision.
There are 106 psychosocial support mobile teams operating in Ukraine.
Mobile teams provide free psychosocial support to individuals regardless of gender or their status in the community, meaning both local residents and internally displaced persons can receive assistance.
The main advantage of these teams is their mobility. The team can respond quickly and effectively to requests from survivors, allowing them to promptly identify cases of violence, provide necessary psychosocial support, and refer individuals to other services if needed.
The Psychosocial Support Mobile Teams are supported by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, in coordination with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine.
The work of the Vyshhorod Mobile Team is made possible through the financial support of the Swedish government, via the implementing partner NGO "Innovative Social Solutions."
