This text has been translated from Norwegian with the assistance of GPT UiO.
– This agreement is an important step forward in a collaboration that has been ongoing since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, says Bjørn Lau, head of the Department of Psychology (PSI).
On Friday, March 21, one day after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Norway, the institute signed a letter of intent with Taras Shevchenko University in Kyiv. The aim of the agreement is to strengthen and formalize collaboration in mental health, research, and education.
Maintaining close contact since the Russian invasion
Bjørn Lau emphasizes the significance of the collaboration throughout the conflict: – We have maintained close cooperation with our Ukrainian colleagues since the war started. This has provided us with unique insight into how war-related trauma affects people, and how academic communities can respond effectively in a highly challenging situation, he says.
The agreement between Taras Shevchenko University and the University of Oslo aims to contribute to concrete solutions and expertise related to trauma treatment, with a particular focus on psychosocial challenges for children and adults affected by the war.
– Ukraine is in the midst of a comprehensive mental health crisis. The need for expertise and professional support is immense. Through this agreement, we aim to strengthen both academic exchange and practical assistance. Simultaneously, the partnership is mutual; we learn a tremendous amount from the experiences of our colleagues in Kyiv, says the head of the Department of Psychology.
He points out that the letter of intent also holds important symbolic and humanitarian value: – This collaboration clearly demonstrates that academic communities extend far beyond national borders, especially in challenging times. The agreement lays a solid foundation for long-term cooperation even after the acute phase of the war subsides, states Lau.
A commitment for support going forward
In addition to department head Bjørn Lau, Professor Beate Seibt, Professor Emerita Nora Sveaass, and numerous colleagues at the Department of Psychology, along with partnership from the field, have been engaged in the collaboration. It was initiated right after the Russian invasion at the request of colleagues in Ukraine, who sought support.
Beate Seibt is pleased that the collaboration continues and expands: – Through this agreement, we promise to support our partners as best as we can through lectures, guidance, workshops, training, and exchange. At the same time, we aim to create a joint platform for research where we can learn both with and from our partners, says Seibt.
She emphasizes that the collaboration will remain crucial even when the war finally ends: – Civil society in Ukraine and Europe is preparing for a ceasefire and peace agreement. This means planning to receive and reintegrate traumatized and often injured veterans. This involves men and women of all ages, says the psychology professor.
She explains that this will pose significant challenges for those affected, their families, and those around them.
– It is important to try to support our colleagues in Ukraine in providing targeted assistance for successful integration. They are now exhausted, disappointed by the Trump administration in the USA, and cautiously hopeful for a ceasefire and peace soon, Beate Seibt summarizes.
Last year, Iryna Hubeladze and Hanna Hromova, both psychologists and researchers from Kyiv, visited colleagues at the Department of Psychology to discuss the situation in their home country after two years of war. They emphasized that the need for psychological support and understanding of long-term mental effects and trauma will not diminish even after the war eventually ends. They also spoke about challenges in discussing mental health issues.
– It has not been common in Ukraine to talk about mental illness. For many, it remains taboo, said Iryna Hubeladze. Both she and Hanna Hromova mentioned that the support from Norwegian colleagues at the Department of Psychology has been invaluable.
Gained expertise we lacked
– The support we received from Norwegian colleagues at the beginning of the war was absolutely invaluable. We did not have enough experience with trauma and stress related to war, said Svitlana Paschenko, Dean at the Faculty of Psychology at Taras Shevchenko University in Kyiv, after signing the collaboration agreement with Bjørn Lau.
She mentioned that there have already been 50 joint seminars and over 1000 participants from both the Ukrainian and Norwegian sides. She also emphasized that - besides knowledge - the human support has been significant and will continue to be so.
Bjørn Lau echoed this sentiment from the Norwegian side: – We are more than colleagues. We are also friends. This contact and cooperation will last a lifetime, Lau emphasized.