New Returning mental health center opens in Ternopil

A modern mental health center for servicemen, veterans, and their families has opened in Ternopil. This is the second facility within the nationwide RETURNING network, founded by Victor and Olena Pinchuk to support Ukraine’s Defense and Security Forces. Each year, more than 4,000 Ukrainian defenders and their families will receive free, comprehensive mental health care here.

The RETURNING project represents a pioneering partnership between the private sector and the state: philanthropists are establishing mental health centers within public medical institutions. In its first phase, the initiative will launch 20–25 centers across Ukraine.

Speaking with the team in Ternopil, project founder and philanthropist Victor Pinchuk stressed:

“From the start, we knew psychological recovery was important, but only now are we truly realizing how critical it is. For the first time in history, soldiers face a type of war where drones and nonstop attacks give no psychological pause. Modern medicine has not yet fully grasped these pressures, but our people are already living through them. That’s why mental recovery is so essential. A strong soldier is not only physically healthy, but also mentally resilient. Helping them recharge and return stronger is, ultimately, a matter of national security.”

The new center in Ternopil, built on the basis of a leading regional medical facility, meets the highest standards of inclusivity. It offers barrier-free access, individual and group therapy rooms, day-care wards with multifunctional beds, and specialized equipment such as the U.S.-developed Shiftwave System for stress management and EMDR therapy sets. Visitors also have access to art therapy materials, psychological board games, and relaxation