Therapy Garden in Ukraine

Ukrainian society is experiencing a major collective psychological trauma. According to the WHO, 10 million people – a quarter of Ukraine’s population – are at risk of developing a mental health condition as a result of the war, ranging from stress and anxiety to more severe disorders such as depression and PTSD. In 2024, together with the Danish Embassy in Ukraine, we were involved in the opening of the therapy garden “Nordic Therapy Garden” in Ukraine, an initiative by Danish urban planner Mikael Colville-Andersen – supported by House of Europe.

The therapy garden covers a 4,500 square metre, previously unused woodland area next to Pavlov Psychiatric Hospital in Kyiv, where, among others, soldiers from the war are treated for PTSD – and now have the opportunity to complement their treatment with professional therapy sessions in the garden. Therapy gardens represent a so-called holistic approach to trauma treatment. This includes the individual’s entire life situation in the treatment process – that is, mental, biological, cultural, social, and environmental aspects.

Partners:

Mikael Colville-Andersen, House of Europe, Danish Embassy in Ukraine