A platform to support mental health for lawyers during the war has been launched

The Ukrainian National Bar Association has launched the platform «Supporting the Mental Health of Ukrainian Lawyers during the War». The platform was developed within the framework of the project «Supporting the Mental Health of Ukrainian Lawyers in Time of War» initiated by the Ukrainian National Bar Association with the support of the International Bar Association (IBA).

In the context of constant stress caused by military operations and high professional workloads, maintaining psychological balance is extremely important for the members of the legal community. Lawyers work with complex cases and a high level of responsibility on a daily basis, which often leads to emotional exhaustion. Learning how to form and protect psychological boundaries will help to maintain internal stability, increase work efficiency, and prevent professional burnout.

The platform can be used by all lawyers whose information is included in the Unified Register of Advocates of Ukraine.

On this platform, users can:

1) apply for promotional codes for an individual therapy session with a psychotherapist by registering on the Rozmova platform on the website at the link;

2) register for free psychoeducational events (online webinars) and view past/future events in a convenient calendar;

3) use the online library with materials on psychology for free.

Attorneys who want to start working with a psychotherapist or psychologist can use the platform to apply for a promotional code for an individual therapy session. The promo code provides a UAH 1000 discount for any individual therapy session with a Rozmova specialist.

To submit an application, the advocate must fill out a special form on the platform, in which he or she must indicate his or her surname, name, patronymic; the e-mail address indicated in the USRA; the Bar Council, where the advocate is registered; the certificate number, the date of its issuance and the issuing authority. Additionally, the lawyer must indicate in a special field of the form which category he or she falls under (female lawyer; young lawyer (under 35 years old); lawyer living in a combat zone; lawyer in the military; other) and briefly describe the personal situation in general terms (without details), to solve which you need to use the promotional code. Of course, within the framework of the project, the UNBA aims to help all advocates who need it, but due to limited financial resources, several key vulnerable groups of advocates have been identified who need urgent support and will be provided with promotional codes in the first place:

• Women attorneys: many women attorneys have taken on additional responsibilities for caring for their children while continuing to practice law because their partners are serving in the army;
• Young lawyers: young professionals are not sure about their future in the legal profession and do not know how to build a career in the current environment;
• Attorneys in active war zones: faced with the direct consequences of war and trying to uphold justice, many are trying to find a balance between safety and professional duties;
• Attorneys in the military: many attorneys have stood up to defend their homeland, constantly under stressful conditions, experiencing complex emotions.

After submitting the application, the advocate will need to wait for a letter with instructions and a promotional code (if the application is approved) or a letter about being on the waiting list (if it is found that the advocate does not belong to any of the categories). After receiving the promotional code, the attorney will need to go to the website and choose a specialist. Detailed instructions on how to register on the Rozmova platform and book an individual therapy session with a Rozmova psychotherapist can be found here. If the cost of a session with a specialist chosen by the lawyer exceeds UAH 1000, the user will have to cover the difference in cost on their own.

The project also plans to hold psychoeducational events (online webinars) every two weeks. Participation in all events is free of charge. In the special section of the platform “Calendar of Events”, advocates can view records of past events in the archive of events, as well as view the calendar of planned events and register for participation in them. The recordings of psychoeducational events (online webinars) will also be available on the official channel of the Ukrainian National Bar Association on the YouTube platform at the link.

Based on the results of each event, the specialist who conducted the psychoeducational webinar will prepare an article on the topic of the event. Users of the platform will be able to read the articles in the «Calendar of Events» (by hovering over the event in the calendar that has already taken place) or «Online Library» sections.

In the Online Library section, advocates will be able to read various materials on psychology, including articles based on the results of the events.

Advocates can send all their suggestions and comments on the platform to info@unba.org.ua.