ENG UKR
RESTART
MINDSET
Mental Resilience
Recovery Program
The goal of the program is – to create a safe space for recovery and growth, where each participant gains practical tools to improve mental well-being, develops healthy habits for daily restoration, and enhances her capacity for resilience and flourishing.
RESTART MINDSET
2025
The program aims to strengthen the safety of Ukrainian women, enhance their level of digital protection, and ensure mental resilience.
The ReStart Mindset program teaches modern stress management techniques, helps participants cope with traumatic experiences, and fosters habits for recovery and relaxation.
PROVEN EFFECTIVENESS
In the first season of the program (2024), 75 women — veterans and relatives of military personnel — participated.
43%
reduction in stress and depression levels
36%
reduction in anxiety
54%
of participants reported improved sleep quality
85%
enhanced their career prospects through coaching and mentoring
WHO WILL
BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM?
Internally Displaced Women / Returnees*
*Women returning home after extended periods abroad
Female Veterans
Women who are partners or family members of veterans or active military personnel
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
Module 1. Mental Resilience
Training in a breathwork and meditation complex for stress relief – Mental Relaxation Technique (MRT).
Cognitive-behavioral skills training (CBT) and sessions with psychologists.
Module 2. Self-Defense Techniques
Self-defense and assertiveness training with elements of WenDo* *WenDo is a self-defense system for women that combines physical defense techniques with psychological tools to build confidence.
Module 3. Digital Security
Online course and workshops on digital safety, focused on practical knowledge and skills for safe use of the digital space.
The program will be held both
online and offline
Kyiv
July – October 2025
PROGRAM EXPERTS
Victor Matsyshyn
Neurologist of the highest category, reflexologist, and meditation teacher.
Founder of the Health Center “Ayurveda 192”.
Author of the Mental Relaxation Technique (MRT).
Research Fellow at the Department of Internal Medicine, State Scientific Institution "Center for Innovative Health Technologies" of the State Affairs Administration (SSI "CIHT" SAA).
Vira Romanova
PhD in Psychology and founder of the METHOD4U psychological support ecosystem.
Ukraine’s representative for people in difficult life circumstances (2015–2016).
Practicing psychologist with 18 years of experience, former lecturer at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (2007–2022).
Curator of an author’s course at Stanford University (2016).
Olga Diakova
Сo-founder and visionary of the NGO Impact Force, co-founder of the agency ORI Meaningful Communications, and co-founder of the David Lynch Foundation in Eastern Europe.
Social innovator and business leader.
20 years of experience in social behavior change.
Hanna Martyniuk
Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of System Analysis and Information Technologies at Mariupol State University.
Leading researcher at the State Research Institute of Cybersecurity and Information Protection Technologies at the State Special Communications Service of Ukraine.
Co-founder of the NGO Women4Cyber Ukraine.
Olha Shton
WenDo trainer, art therapist, artist.
Graduate of the 4th WenDo Academy in Krakow, participant of the international meeting of WenDo trainers in Austria.
For over 20 years worked as an artist and graphic designer. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in Ukraine, have focused on providing art therapy sessions for children, adolescents, and women, providing creative support and empowerment in times of crisis.
PROGRAM STAGES
/ 01
June–July 2025
Application collection and participant selection
/ 02
July 2025
Program launch Module 1: Mental Resilience
/ 03
August–September 2025
Module 2: Self-Defense Techniques Module 3: Digital Security
/ 04
September–October 2025
Module 3 continues: Digital Security
/ 05
October 2025
Final event
Program PARTNERS:
MEDIA PARTNERS
Results
2024
Program Description:
Learn more...
The ReStart Mindset 2024 program focused on restoring mental health and supporting the career development of female veterans and women from military families. Participants completed two key modules: "Mental Health" and "Career Development." They underwent diagnostics, mastered techniques for improving emotional well-being and sleep, reducing anxiety, building resilience, and gained practical knowledge for professional growth.
Number of participants:
75 women
Program duration:
February 2024 – June 2024
Results:
Participants’ sleep quality improved by 34%;
Stress resilience increased by 49%;
Depressive symptoms decreased by 44%;
100% of participants reported increased confidence and readiness for professional reintegration.
This initiative is produced by Impact Force with technical support of UN Women Ukraine , funded by The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) mobilizes critical support for local and grassroots civil society organizations working on women, peace and security and humanitarian action. More...