Rehabilitation after the war: what veterans and their families need to know
After a long stay in combat conditions, many Ukrainian soldiers face serious physical and psychological consequences. Rehabilitation of soldiers after the war is a key stage on the way to their return to a full life. Support for veterans’ families, who go through a difficult path of adaptation with them, is also important.
Main areas of military rehabilitation
After completing military service, veterans often need not only medical care, but also deep psychological support. The rehabilitation program for the ATO/JFO includes:
- treatment of PTSD and post-traumatic stress disorder in the military;
- recovery after military service through physiotherapy, massage, reflexology;
- individual and group psychological assistance to combatants;
- social adaptation and career counseling.
A rehabilitation center for veterans should provide a comprehensive approach to restoring health and psycho-emotional state.
The “Returning to Yourself” Foundation and its initiatives
The “Returning to Yourself” Foundation implements unique comprehensive programs of physical and psychological recovery for veterans, cancer patients, doctors, and teachers. A special feature is the individual approach to each participant of the program, taking into account their personal needs, health status and life circumstances.
Rehabilitation takes place in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia – in the silence of European resorts, with medical support, psychological support and comfortable living conditions. This allows veterans to recover in a safe environment, away from daily triggers and stresses.
How to get help for a veteran
The process of receiving help is quite transparent, but requires some preparation. To participate in the program, you need to contact the “Path to Yourself” Foundation through the official website, by filling out the application form or a private application.
It is recommended to have the following documents with you:
- a combat veteran’s certificate or other document confirming veteran status;
- medical certificates indicating the need for rehabilitation;
- contact information and a brief description of the problem.
Assistance to veterans in Ukraine is possible both within the country and abroad. In particular, the Foundation helps organize trips to rehabilitation centers in Europe. There, each participant receives both physical and psychological assistance.
Psychological rehabilitation: what is important to know
Post-traumatic stress disorder in the military is a serious problem that cannot be ignored. Even years after returning from the front, a person may experience outbursts of aggression, anxiety, and withdrawal. Psychological assistance to combatants should include long-term support, including art therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and body-oriented practices.
It is also important to involve families in the rehabilitation process – support for veterans’ families should be comprehensive, because it is at home that daily adaptation to a new life takes place.
Rehabilitation of military personnel after the war – it is not only the restoration of the body, but also a deep transformation of consciousness. Thanks to the programs implemented by the “Path to Yourself” Foundation, Ukrainian veterans have the opportunity to return to a full life, feel supported, and rediscover themselves. Providing quality assistance to veterans in Ukraine should become a priority for both the state and society as a whole.
