Author:
The Foundation's team
The Voices of Children Foundation, in partnership with Terre des Hommes, conducted the study "(In)Accessible Support: What Prevents Children from Getting Support When They Need It?".
The study examines how children's access to psychological and psychiatric support is regulated in Ukraine, focusing in particular on situations where children under 14 years old need support but cannot seek psychological or psychiatric care on their own without the consent of a parent or another legal guardian. In practice, obtaining such consent is not always possible due to a lack of awareness among adults, their own prejudices, or the difficult circumstances families themselves are facing.
The study examines how children's access to psychological and psychiatric support is regulated in Ukraine, focusing in particular on situations where children under 14 years old need support but cannot seek psychological or psychiatric care on their own without the consent of a parent or another legal guardian. In practice, obtaining such consent is not always possible due to a lack of awareness among adults, their own prejudices, or the difficult circumstances families themselves are facing.
We analyzed how children's access to psychological support is regulated under international law and Ukrainian legislation. We also examined approaches used in other countries, including EU member states, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Norway. We looked at where children are allowed to seek support independently based on their age, and where access is determined through an individual assessment of the child's maturity. Drawing on this comparative analysis, we developed recommendations for making psychological and psychiatric care more accessible to children and adolescents in Ukraine, thereby safeguarding their best interests.
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