These tips were created for the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program ‘How are you?’ initiated by Olena Zelenska. Some of them were published on the First Lady’s Telegram channel:

• Avoid asking for details about the war, as such questions can trigger unpleasant memories.
• Avoid asking taboo questions such as ‘What happened in the war?’, ‘Were you shot at?’, or ‘Did you see the dead?’
• Pay attention to your gestures. Avoid loud sounds, shouting, and outbursts of emotion.
• Avoid devaluing people’s experiences by asking them “Why did you go there?”
• Focus on supporting the person rather than showing pity.

The Barrier-Free Handbook has a new section called ‘People with War Experience: Dignity and Interaction‘ that provides information on how to communicate correctly with veterans and survivors of captivity.