Support to mental health counseling and psychological rehabilitation is at core of the 1st operation pillar of For Azerbaijan – Healing the Wounds of the Past. Considering the post-war period we believe that there is a significant need for psychological rehabilitation of many of our compatriots directly or indirectly affected by war. Very unfortunately, the impact of such trauma is often hidden, delayed, or seen as less pressing compared to visible physical harms. However, when unattended, it can lead to devastating consequences.

To address this challenge, FA put together a team of professional psychologists and psychiatrists. We began collaborating with private Modern Hospital and Nefes Mental Health Center which assisted with patient evaluations. This pilot project is expected to last for up to one year and cover up to 50 families. We signed a $10,000 contract with Modern Hospital to provide these services with an option to extend the pilot by additional $5,000, based on the implementation progress and impact review. If the project proves to be as successful as the early evidence shows, FA plans to expand the activity into next phases, on a longer-term basis.

The main funding source for this project was the “Peace, Hope, and Love For Karabakh” charity concert, organized by a community of Azerbaijani artists, musicians, writers, poets, and friends of Azerbaijan wishing to restore a peaceful world in Karabakh.

I am so glad that we could reach out to our veterans, their families, and families of our fallen soldiers, as most of them are not aware of the dire situation they are in.

The program has been carefully designed to bring impact and results, but also balance the effectiveness of the donor support with efficient implementation. Every potential patient is evaluated by a team of doctors and mental health professionals (through a Concilium) and accordingly diagnosed. As of July 2nd, 37 people directly or indirectly affected by the war have been evaluated by our professionals. “I am so glad that we could reach out to our veterans, their families, and families of our fallen soldiers, as most of them are not aware of the dire situation they are in,” said one of the doctors of Nefes Mental Health Center. Out of 37 people evaluated so far, 25 have been identified as in need of treatment and rehabilitation that would last a couple of months each and 12 have been diagnosed with no significant issues other than periodic check ups with our professionals. Our implementation partners carry out the initial assessment free, while FA covers the evaluation and diagnostics and then all the treatment expenses of those 25 people.

Stay tuned. We will keep you informed more as the project evolves. This project is expected to bring real improvements to people’s lives and well-being of their families.