Helping the Helpers: Mental Health Challenges of Psychosocial Support Workers During the Russian-Ukrainian War.

OBJECTIVE: The ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war has been linked to mental health problems in the Ukrainian general population. To date, however, scarce research has examined the mental health of psychosocial support workers (PSWs) in Ukraine who have a burdensome workload in the context of ongoing conflict. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and correlates of burnout, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal ideation (SI) in PSWs in Ukraine during the Russian-Ukrainian war. METHODS: One hundred seventy-eight PSWs in Ukraine completed a survey assessing war exposure, mental health, and psychosocial characteristics. RESULTS: A total 59.6% of PSWs screened positive for burnout, 38.2% for PTSD, and 10.7% for current SI. Lower optimism was associated with greater odds of burnout. Greater distress from witnessing war-related destruction, lower optimism, lower presence of meaning in life, and lower levels of close social relationships were associated with greater odds of burnout. Lower presence of meaning in life was associated with greater odds of SI. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study highlight the mental health challenges faced by PSWs in Ukraine during the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. They further suggest that interventions to foster meaning in life and promote social connectedness may "help the helpers" during this ongoing conflict.

RESULTS OF COMPETENCE FORMATION IN PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH MODERATE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To analyze the levels of competence formation in parents of senior preschoolers with moderate ID and to substantiate the obtained indicators for practical use. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The sample of the study was 162 persons: experimental group (EG) - parents (or persons substituting them) of 53 preschoolers with moderate ID - 96 persons (out of the total number, 12 children are brought up by mothers without fathers); control group (CG) - parents (or persons substituting them) of 41 preschoolers with MID - 66 persons (out of the total number, 16 children are brought up by mothers without fathers). RESULTS: Results: The use of Fisher's φ-criterion allowed to draw the following conclusions: first, at the ascertaining stage of the experiment the characteristics of the EG and CG according to certain indicators of parental competence were homogeneous (α=0.05). At the control stage - significantly different indicators of the experimental group (α=0.01). Secondly, positive changes in the identified characteristics in the EG and absence of such changes in the CG, gives grounds to argue about the effectiveness of implementation of the developed and presented in the experimental model forms, methods and conditions for the development of parental competence. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Thus, despite almost identical indicators of competence levels in parents of the EG and CG at the ascertaining stage of the experiment, the molding stage testified to the specific advantage of representatives of the experimental group over representatives of the control group on levels of development of motivational-personal, gnostic, communicative-activity criteria of competence of parents of children with moderate ID.

INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN PRESCHOOLERS: MENTAL HEALTH DETERMINANTS DURING THE PERINATAL PERIOD OF DEVELOPMENT.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: The aim of the study is to identify correlations between mental health indicators for preschoolers with intellectual disabilities and specifics of their prenatal, natal and postnatal development. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Analysis of special medical, psychological and pedagogical literature; comparison and systematization of research material to determine mentalhealth indicators for preschoolers with mild and moderate degrees of intellectual disability; mathematical methods of statistics. RESULTS: Results: Empirical research, delineating formation of mental health indicators for senior preschoolers with intellectual disabilities, specified in low level of formation of both criteria, has been conducted. In general, we can conclude that the formation of mental health against the background of intellectual disability of preschool children is associatedwith low levels of self-awareness as a member of a social group; below age expectations' ability to perceive self and produce information about themselves, their preferences and meaningful adults; inability to adhere to social norms and values in behavior; high levels of anxiety; aggressive tendencies; lack of independence; helplessness concerning helping others; expectation of help from adults; content inappropriate emotional outbursts accompanied by frequent mood swings; and desire for solitude. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The obtained results confirm the conditionality of intellectual disability on negative factors in the perinatal period of development and strong correlation withmental disorders. It is important to correctly diagnose the existing manifestations of comorbid mental health disorders at preschool age and earlier, in order to implement appropriate measures for intervention and development.