Psychological help in your pocket: presentation of the mobile application “Base”

The IREX Veterans Reintegration Program supports the development and popularization of mental health services for defenders. The projects implemented with our support include MARTA, a resource that allows users to check their mental health status and receive recommendations for improving it here and now.

“When IREX launched the Veterans Reintegration Program in 2019, we set out to help develop the digitalization of services for female and male veterans. First of all, we believe that digitalization is an effective method to simplify the way for veterans to receive services and reduce barriers. We understand that all female and male veterans should have equal access to services when they return home, regardless of whether they live in a big city or a small village. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of stigma around the topic of mental health in our society, and for veterans to be able to “enter” the system, they need technology to help. This is where digital solutions come in handy. We understand that the need for mental health services among Ukrainians is much greater than the number of professionals ready to provide these services. Therefore, we must work together to find creative solutions to reduce the burden on the system and create alternatives where all Ukrainians, especially defenders, can have access to services that may include both self-help skills and screening,” said Ulyana Bakh, IREX Project Director.

Professional psychologists are working on the content of the Base app developed by the Free Choice organization. It has several sections where you can read about the conditions that people face after demobilization, exercises to help with a particular condition, as well as phone numbers for crisis lines, psychological and legal support sites, and even job search.

“The scale of assistance that Ukrainians will need will exceed all existing healthcare capacities, and that’s why IT tools can be of great help in cases that are not as serious and as complex. And I’m glad that with the help of the U.S., IREX has been able to contribute to that,” said Matthew R. Johnson, Stabilization Counselor at the U.S. Embassy. ‘I truly believe that IT solutions can provide important as well as cost-effective tools to promote veterans’ well-being. This will be an important component of helping all of Ukraine’s defenders and protectors reintegrate into society after demobilization. The brave men and women who defend Ukraine have their own needs, and to help them and show them that we value their work, we must all work together. Ukrainians are some of the greatest IT innovators in the world.”  

“Base allows you to track your mood tracker. It can be used offline and without a stable mobile connection. To date, more than 30 thousand users have downloaded the free app.

“Baza is being implemented with the support of the IREX Veterans Reintegration Program, which is implemented by IREX with the support of the U.S. Department of State.