Less Fear, More Knowledge: Take Care, Be Aware Launches an Instagram Page for Children and Teens

The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on children’s and adolescents’ mental health. 32% of Ukrainian teenagers experience moderate or severe depression, 17.9% suffer from significant anxiety, and 35% show signs of psychological trauma. Experts estimate that around 4 million young people will need psychological support due to the war’s consequences.

To help address this, after six months of work in Chernivtsi, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Khmelnytskyi regions, the Take Care, Be Aware project is launching an Instagram page. This page is part of a larger awareness-raising campaign designed to combat stigma and improve access to psychological support for young people.In addition to providing accessible online content, the campaign also includes offline components such as awareness-raising sessions in educational facilities of four hromadas and youth-led activities focused on destigmatization of mental health issues. Together, these efforts aim to empower young people with knowledge and support, both online and offline.

💡 What Will the Instagram Page Offer?

✅ Expert advice on psychological well-being and emotional balance
✅ Accessible information on sexual and reproductive health
✅ Real stories of teenagers overcoming challenges
✅ Interactive materials for self-exploration and self-help skills development
✅ A safe space for support and open dialogue

🎯 Why Is This Important? 📢 Young people spend a significant amount of time on social media—it’s crucial they receive trustworthy information on mental health and sexual and reproductive health in a format they’re used to
📢 Conversations about psychological support and sexual health are still stigmatized—our goal is to make these topics open, accessible, and understandable
📢 Expanding access to services—through Instagram and in-person activities, we help young people learn where and how they can receive real support

Alongside this awareness campaign, the Take Care, Be Aware project also focuses on building professional capacity in evidence-based mental health methodologies. The project aims to train 150 trainers and 675 facilitators on scalable MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) interventions. This initiative aligns with the national Mental Health Action Plan and ensures that professionals across Ukraine are equipped to provide high-quality psychological support to children and adolescents.

🔹 About the Project
The Take Care, Be Aware project operates in Chernivtsi, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Khmelnytskyi regions, as well as at the national level. It brings together psychologists, educators, media, parents, and local communities to raise awareness about children’s and youth’s mental health, combat stigma, and ensure access to quality psychological support.

📌 Join the community here: https://www.instagram.com/takecare_beaware/

This project is funded by the Ukraine Partnership Facility (UPF), a programme from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency commissioned by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

UPF supports damage repair and reconstruction projects for the public and private sectors. UPF aims to help the sustainable recovery of Ukraine’s economy and society in the water, healthcare and agricultural sectors.