PRESERVATION OF THE MENTAL HEALTH OF PARTICIPANTS OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS UNDER MARTIAL LAW

Abstract

Introduction. Because of the war, the citizens of our state lose loved ones, homes, health, find themselves separated from the family and the usual environment, may become witnesses of violence and destruction. A vulnerable category in this context are participants in the educational process, who, due to military aggression, may be in a stressful or depressed state, experience anxiety, fears that will directly affect their capabilities and motivation to carry out educational activities, and be one of the reasons for the deterioration of mental health. The actuality of the problem is due to the need to find effective mechanisms for solving the specified, which is confirmed by the analysis of scientific sources of recent years and sociological research in 2023 and 2024 conducted by the Institute of Social and Political Psychology of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine. Purpose and objectives of the article are to identify the key problems related to maintaining the mental health of participants in the educational process and searching for effective means of preserving it under martial law. The purpose of the study is realized through the implementation of the follow tasks: to clarify the definition of the concept of «mental health of the individual»; identify triggers and glimmers that affect the mental health of participants in the educational process, characterize psychosocial support programs as effective tools for maintaining mental health. Results. It was found that the criteria for mental health of the individual are: emotional balance, adequacy of perception of reality, ability to self-development, social adaptation, ability to solve problems constructively, a sense of meaning of life, mental stability. Effective means of preserving the mental health of the individual are determined: sufficient sleep, balanced nutrition, physical activity, «contact» with nature, positive thinking, rest and social support. It is useful to use glimmers – positive stimuli associated with sensory channels (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, discrete) which balance stress stimuli (triggers, stressors), soothe and give a sense of harmony. Effective techniques are mindfulness (awareness), which help the individual to focus on the «here-and-now» moment by studying the reactions in the body, thoughts and feelings, reactions to the environment, without value judgments. It was determined that the implementation of the All-Ukrainian mental health program «How are you?» (initiative of O. Zelenskaya) in the educational field is possible through the integration of mental health skills into the educational process of the educational institution.