Zoriana Skaletska: Ministry intends to reform mental health system in Ukraine

Health Minister Zoriana Skaletska has stated that the ministry intends to reform the mental health care system in Ukraine.

In a post on her Facebook page, she wrote: "Mental health is the level of psychological well-being that is a key to quality of everybody’s life. The Health Ministry intends to develop a new draft law of Ukraine on mental health, which should completely break the inherited Soviet organizational structure, strategies and practices of the mental health system”.

The health minister noted that Lithuania, which has experience in this area, will provide support in developing a system of socialization for people with mental disorders in Ukraine.

The priorities of the reform will include raising awareness about mental health in society, developing and implementing programs to overcome stigma at the national and regional levels, involving people with mental and intellectual disabilities and their families in a dialogue during the process of developing a new system, Skaletska stressed.