Innovative VR Therapy for PTSD Recovery: NGO “Kyivshchyna – Tse My” Launches Project with Support from the Visegrad Fund
The NGO “Kyivshchyna – Tse My” has launched a unique rehabilitation project for veterans, active-duty military personnel, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and civilians affected by the war in the Kyiv region, utilizing virtual reality (VR) technologies. The initiative became possible thanks to grant support from the Visegrad Fund in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.
The goal of the project is to develop an effective, evidence-based PTSD treatment program using VR technologies, train 20 professionals (psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and psychotherapists), and provide therapy to 80 patients with PTSD. As part of the project, 5 psychological support centers will be opened across 5 communities in the Kyiv region.
Research conducted in the U.S. in the 1990s on Vietnam War veterans showed a 45% reduction in PTSD symptoms through VR therapy, confirming its effectiveness. The Russian-Ukrainian war has caused a sharp rise in PTSD cases among military personnel, displaced persons, and civilian victims of war.
The project’s innovation lies in adapting VR technologies to the Ukrainian context. It applies trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and prolonged exposure therapy (PE) in a virtual environment. For the first time in Ukraine, a standardized program for training specialists and treating PTSD with VR is being developed.
Preliminary results from a six-week pilot phase showed a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms among military participants, confirming the effectiveness of the approach. Participants reported decreased anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Additional project components include:
• Development of a chatbot for consultations and patient-therapist communication.
• Public information campaigns on interactive screens at Lavina Mall (up to 30,000 visitors/month).
• Organization of an international conference in Wrocław to exchange experience with European professionals.
• A training course titled “VR Therapy for PTSD Treatment” to be integrated into medical university curricula.
Future plans of NGO “Kyivshchyna – Tse My” include scaling the project to frontline regions of Ukraine, where psychological support is most urgently needed. Integration of the training course into university programs and alignment with European rehabilitation standards, based on the experience of Visegrad Group partners, is also envisioned.
Project Partners:
• LLC “VR Mentality” – developer of specialized VR content for PTSD therapy.
• O.O. Bohomolets National Medical University – responsible for training and certifying professionals.
• Kyiv Regional Psychiatric and Narcological Association – provides clinical infrastructure for pilot treatment groups.
• Masaryk University (Czech Republic), Slovenská asociácia go (Slovakia) – contribute to the development of educational materials, therapy evaluation, and promotion of best practices in Visegrad Group countries.
Head of Non-governmental organization (NGO) “Kyivshchyna – Tse My”
Daria Novykova
(+380) 66 802 96 02
kyiv.region21@gmail.com
www.kyivschyna.org