In frontline and liberated areas of Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, volunteers and people working for local authorities provide essential services to their communities. But more than two years into Russia’s full-scale war, more than a third of these critical service providers are suffering from burnout.
Research shows that retreats are an effective tool to provide people in high-stress environments with physical and psychological relief, addressing burnout. But stigma, and the importance of the work, make it hard to take a break.
Volodymyr, who works for Kherson Regional State administration, knows this only too well. After his initial discussion about attending a retreat was interrupted by an explosion, he put off another call until burnout forced him to seek help.
“I came here in a pretty bad condition, I was angry and irritated, constantly stressed and indifferent to my safety. But now I feel so light, like I'm a light leaf in the wind. I learned a lot of practices and I want to take them with me, such as "I'm allowed to do anything" and "I'm okay". I also found my balance physically and mentally,” he explains.
Maria, who works for a district court in Zaporizhzhia, was also struggling with the idea that she needed to take care of herself in order to continue with her work.
“When I came here [to a retreat], I realized that something was wrong with me, but I didn't know what it was. Thanks to all the exercises, I learned that it was sadness….Thanks to the individual approach [at the retreat], we found the right approach. Here we seem to have taken off all our masks. We became ourselves again.”
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, USAID has supported more than 27,000 volunteers and key workers from frontline areas to attend retreats, where they access psychological support, participate in art therapy, and discuss their experiences with others, enabling a return to work with new tools to protect their mental health.
