In Zaurale, SVO Veterans Turn to Church, Not Psychologists

In Zaurale (Trans-Urals region), many SVO veterans distrust psychologists, preferring to go to church rather than to a specialist appointment. This was discussed at a meeting of the social policy committee of the regional duma in the «Defenders of the Fatherland» foundation. Participants discussed how to organize rehabilitation so that fighters are not left alone with their trauma.

Regional coordinator of the organization «Eternal Memory to Heroes» Ekaterina Safonova noted that trust in priests is higher because they were with the fighters in the combat zone. Many are baptized right in the combat zone, and upon return, the priest often becomes their only legitimate authority.

— In Shadrinsk, Father Denisiy and Father Konstantin are always open for conversation. There are priests who communicated with the guys there and are ready to continue the work here, — Safonova explained.

According to her, working with families requires patience. Often, veterans and their loved ones «open up» only on the fourth or fifth attempt.

Deputy of the regional duma and psychotherapist Yaroslav Klimko believes that the church can become one of the «entry points» into the help system for those who fear doctors. He proposed creating a unified brochure with contacts of specialists.

— For example, a person has problems with alcohol, but he won«t go to a narcology dispensary because he fears being registered. Same with a psychologist. But to church — he agrees. So, we need to give him the address of a specific priest who knows how to work with such conditions and knows where to refer the person further, — Klimko noted.

The Reality of SVO Fighters and the Reality of Families

Human Rights Commissioner in the Kurgan Region Alena Lopatina emphasized that families and the fighters themselves live in parallel worlds. According to survey results, for loved ones, the top issues are psychological stress and legal confusion (35% of respondents). For the SVO participants themselves — physical survival, housing, and legal barriers.

— We can«t help everyone the same way. Many fighters react aggressively to the suggestion to go to a psychologist: »What, am I sick?« — Lopatina notes.

Her words were confirmed by the head of the regional branch of the «Defenders of the Fatherland» foundation Natalya Semina. She said that many who returned from the SVO initially had to be persuaded to see a psychologist, but now there is a waiting list for specialists.

— I have the impression that we present a psychologist as some kind of super-specialist who solves all internal problems, heals the soul, and releases a calm, content person from their session. But those who seek help often confuse the concepts of «psychologist» and «psychiatrist» and are afraid to show their weakness or the pathological nature of their condition, — Lopatina added.

In her opinion, a solution could be an audit of psychological assistance and the creation of a clear «roadmap» for veterans. However, the chief freelance psychiatrist of the region Irina Soboleva was skeptical of this idea. She put the question bluntly: «How can we conduct an audit if veterans can become objects of financial interest for unscrupulous private practitioners?»

— Veterans are well-off people, and private psychologists are not averse to «milking» them, — Soboleva said curtly.

The expert emphasized that the position of the Ministry of Health on this issue is uncompromising: only medical psychologists from state institutions who have undergone training at the Serbsky Institute should work with the specifics of the SVO. This is the only way to avoid manipulation and incompetence from specialists.

Creating Support Groups

Psychiatrist Yaroslav Klimko is sure that psychological help is needed not only for fighters but also for their children. School psychologists see how students« behavior changes when their fathers return from the front as different people. It is difficult for a child to accept a changed dad, and here professional support is needed so that the family does not fall apart completely.

A special category — families of the missing. These are people living in a state of perpetual stress and uncertainty, who need a specific approach.

As one of the adaptation measures, Klimko proposed, for example, creating negotiator groups at the police from among SVO participants. Such specialists could respond to domestic conflicts and, in the language of «combat brotherhood,» extinguish aggression from comrades, preventing serious crimes.

The deputy appealed to leading scientific centers in psychiatry to invite experts to Kurgan to train local psychologists on working with the specifics of the SVO. But so far, such programs do not exist.

Earlier we told the story of a Wagner PMC volunteer, how he returned to normal life. Yaroslav Klimko explained in detail to the correspondent of 45.RU, how SVO participants can return home.