The aim of the dual degree programme is to develop a master’s course that teaches students areas of advanced knowledge, understanding, and skills in the subject area of psychological wellbeing and mental health with a focus on the trauma of war and mental health recovery. This programme takes up Kurapov et al.’s (2022) call to better understand mental health in war contexts and to teach students at an advanced level about practical psychological study. It brings together the expertise in psychology of LPNU and their lived experience of the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the psychological wellbeing and mental health research team at NTU.

The main aim of developing a joint master's in psychology course is to give Ukrainian students new opportunities and the ability to work and study in cross-cultural environments. Ukrainian students from LPNU would have the unique possibility to grow their knowledge of Ukrainian and British levels of higher education. Many Ukrainian scientific reports showed changes in mental health and well-being for Ukrainian youth. A master’s course that helps to grow highly qualified psychologists and specialists in the field of mental health and well-being would be beneficial for Ukraine during the war period. Ukrainian citizens would receive highly qualified psychological support as the main result of our collaboration. This is particularly relevant, as the full-scale Russian invasion had drastic negative effects on the Ukrainian health system, and in the delivery of mental health support in particular. The health care system of Ukraine is functioning at a reduced capacity (Mossialos et al, 2023). Moreover, recent evidence suggests that during the war, Ukrainian young people have suffered from exposure to abuse and violence and the loss of their closest friends and family members, which had resulted in severe forms of trauma (Cai et al, 2022).

Alumni of the Dual Degree programme have many possibilities to work in mental health support organisations. The programmes for mental health support grown very fast during the war period. The Ministry of Science and Education of Ukraine and First Lady Olena Zelenska are responsible for much of it (see Olena Zelenska told how the initiative to create the National Programme of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support is being implemented and UNICEF and Ukraine’s First Lady unite experts to support children's mental health). 

Trauma recovery is one of the most important fields in which alumni can work and realise their professional skills. Posttraumatic growth is strongly connected to trauma recovery. That working area starts with veterans of the Russian – Ukrainian war from 2014. LPNU have a dual degree student who works in the Ministry and LPNU is developing a partnership with the Ministry of Veterans.