Supporting Ukraine’s Mental Health Crisis: An Evening at The Frontline Club

On Thursday 13th November, MedAid International hosted a powerful evening at The Frontline Club in London, drawing a standing-room-only crowd to address one of Ukraine’s most pressing challenges: the mental health crisis facing soldiers, veterans, and civilians. With more than one million veterans expected to return from the front lines, many carrying the invisible wounds of PTSD and other trauma, Ukraine faces an emergency that will extend far beyond the current conflict.

The evening brought together an exceptional panel including Professor Walter Busuttil, former Medical Director and Director of Research at Combat Stress, and Father Vitaliy Novak, former head of De Paul Ukraine who is currently serving in the Ukrainian military. MedAid Trustee Ariane Cowley introduced the innovative work of Moe Kolo, the psychosocial support programme co-founded by Medaid International in Lviv in 2023.

The audience included experts and individuals with direct experience from Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, and beyond—voices every bit as significant as those on stage. This combination created something rare: a dynamic, respectful, and multifaceted conversation free from the grandstanding that often diminishes such events.

Several key themes emerged from the discussions. In a landscape where geopolitics, innovation, and digital technology are constantly evolving, conventional organisational models struggle to maintain relevance. Instead, the consensus pointed toward the critical importance of an agile mindset and collaborative approach. Grassroots initiatives like Moe Kolo will prove more adaptive and sustainable than top-down international programmes, offering psychosocial support that can scale while remaining responsive to local needs.

The choice of The Frontline Club as venue proved deeply appropriate. This space, dedicated to supporting independent journalism from conflict zones, provided the perfect backdrop for a conversation about supporting those who experience conflict firsthand. As the evening demonstrated, addressing Ukraine’s mental health crisis requires more than good intentions or traditional aid models—it demands innovation, collaboration across sectors and borders, and the humility to listen to those with direct experience of trauma and recovery. Linked here is our LinkedIn post featuring a highlight video of the event.

Medaid International continues to support mental health initiatives in Ukraine, including the Moe Kolo psychosocial support programme in Lviv.