ISSUP Ukraine are pleased to present the First Webinar in their Three-Part Series on 'Mental Health of Youth and Substance Use'. The First Webinar will centre specifically on Self-Harm and Suicide in Young.

The focus of this Series is to raise issues around youth mental health and to bring acknowledgment that is connected with substance use. Three world-known speakers will discuss depression, self-harm, suicide behavior and comorbidity of mental health and substance use disorders in youth. 

Substance-abusing youth are at higher risk of incurring mental health problems, including depression, personality disorders, suicidal behaviours compared to non-users. Substance abuse may increase symptoms of mental illness or trigger the new one. Similarly, young with depression are at higher risk of using substances. As many young people with mild depression go undiagnosed, the condition can appear to be the result of addiction. Substance use disorders among depressed youths are a risk factor for suicidal behaviors.

Speaker at First Webinar:
Dr. Dennis Ougrin, 
Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Queen Mary University of London

Affective disorders, or mood disorders, are often diagnosed in people who use or are addicted to psychoactive substances. Symptoms of substance use disorder can mimic symptoms of both depression and mania. For example, acute alcohol intoxication or stimulant intoxication can cause symptoms of mania or hypomania, and withdrawal symptoms often manifest with dysphoria and depression. Treatment of comorbid mood disorders affects the further course of the disease and treatment prognosis. Why does this happen? Why is it important to diagnose depression, bipolar disorder? Is it correct to screen for affective disorders when the client is intoxicated?

This webinar will help to expand knowledge on screening, assessment and treatment approaches of people with affective disorders, comorbid with substance use disorders.

Speaker: Stanislav Chumak, Institute of Psychiatry of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Senior Researcher

The course was developed with the assistance of Ukraine Addiction Transfer Technology Center (I-ATTS).

The effect of psychoactive substances on the human body has it’s gender differences. For example, alcohol dependence is a growing problem among women. Predisposition to alcoholism is higher in women primarily due to structural and physiological differences, they are more likely experience adverse effects, faster than men develop addiction to alcohol. There are also specific health risks associated only with women, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, breast cancer and others. In general, women more likely have stronger craving for psychoactive substances and more likely experience relapse. About all this, and gender differences of the development and course of addictions to psychoactive substances (nicotine, marijuana, psychostimulants, MDMA, opioids, sedatives) you can hear by watching this webinar.

Speaker: Olha Myshakivska, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Teaching assistant

The course was developed with the assistance of Ukraine Addiction Transfer Technology Center (I-ATTS).

ISSUP Ukraine partnered with ISSUP Global to present a webinar on Educational initiatives on June 17, 2020.

Featured Speakers:

• Iryna Pinchuk-Institute of psychiatry of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Director, «Issup-Ukraine»

• Yulia Yachnik-University Clinic of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Doctor psychologist, «Assessment of the training needs of professionals who provide assistance to people with substance use disorders

• Olha Myshakivska-Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Teaching Assistant, «Educational training initiatives, work experience of ATC Ukraine»

• Olena Krasulya-ICF Alliance for Public Health, Independent consultant, «Alliance for Public Health: Impacting the Epidemics-Supporting Communities

• Tetiana Derhach-State Institution «Health Care Center of the State Criminal Executive Service of Ukraine», Department of treatment and prevention, MD, «Actual Perspectives of educational activities for medical workers of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine in the context of Health Care general principles changes for people with addiction»

ISSUP Ukraine partnered with ISSUP Global to present a webinar on Mental Health Issues during THE COVID-19 pandemic.

Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Speakers included:
o Alisa Ladyk-Bryzgalova, World Health Organization (office in Ukraine), «Psychosocial Aspects of COVID-19 Pandemic»
o Robert van Voren, International Foundation "Global Initiative on Psychiatry (GIP)", General Secretary, "International campaign" Mind the Gap "as a tool of destigmatization in the field of mental health"
o Iryna Pinchuk, Institute of Psychiatry of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Director, «Risk perception, stress factors in healthcare professionals during COVID-19 pandemic»
o Albert Feldman, Golda Meir Institute of Strategic Research, «Creation of a socio-psychological model of the hotline «Stop, Panic» In the conditions of quarantine measures of the COVID-19 pandemic»

This webinar focuses on the issue of self-care for addiction professionals and was delivered by ICUDDR Deputy Director Cary Hopkins Eyles.

Many of us are drawn to work in the field of substance use disorders due to our history, family, and personal traits, such as compassion and empathy. While these can be great assets, they can also be detrimental to us personally.

In this webinar, Cary explains how to identify healthy and unhealthy traits, how we can care for ourselves, and what authentic self-care looks like.

Cary has worked in the field of substance use disorders for 18 years. She is passionate about helping professionals in this field to take care of themselves so they can thrive and help those in need. Cary has worked in direct care in non-profit in the U.S., has run Residential, Outpatient, and Criminal Justice treatment programs, and has trained and mentored other substance use professionals. She is now the Deputy Director for the International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR) and supports the development of addiction studies programs around the world. She is a global trainer in the Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC).

Recorded on 13 March 2020