World Vision launches Parenting in Crisis Chatbot for Ukrainians amid mental health crisis
Kyiv, Ukraine – World Vision Ukraine Crisis Response, in partnership with World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe and Parenting for Lifelong Health, has launched the Parenting in Crisis Chatbot, locally named Batkivska Opora. This digital tool provides Ukrainian caregivers with evidence-based guidance on child protection, psychosocial support, and positive parenting amid the ongoing war.
The launch comes as Ukrainian families face unprecedented mental health issues after nearly four years of war. Assessments indicate that 84% of households report psychosocial distress among children, with nearly one-third of children under five showing visible signs of anxiety and trauma.
Nearly half of caregivers report that their children feel unsafe every day, while 86% express constant concern for their children’s well-being.
The Parenting in Crisis Chatbot addresses these challenges by delivering practical, culturally adapted guidance via Telegram. Using text, audio, illustrations, and short videos, it provides strategies for stress management, positive parenting, and child protection. Its flexible, low-bandwidth format ensures access, even in remote or low-connectivity areas.
“Today in Ukraine, we are witnessing an unprecedented mental health crisis, particularly among children. Parents, already struggling with lost jobs, reduced income, displacement, and ongoing security concerns, often lack the guidance and resources to support their children effectively,” said Arman Grigoryan, World Vision Ukraine Response Director.
“By combining digital innovation with evidence-based psychosocial support, this chatbot provides practical, accessible guidance to help parents care for their children, manage stress, and create safer, more nurturing home environments during these extremely challenging times.”
“We are delighted to work with World Vision to provide families in crisis situations with immediate parenting and mental health support that is evidence-based and scalable through accessible, low-cost technology.”
The chatbot is currently being piloted in Ukraine with 500 caregivers and will be scaled up to reach thousands of families across affected oblasts.
“We are delighted to work with World Vision to provide families in crisis situations with immediate parenting and mental health support that is evidence-based and scalable through accessible, low-cost technology,” said Jamie Lachman, CEO of Parenting for Lifelong Health.
This initiative comes at a time when an estimated 1.5 million Ukrainian children are at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other mental health issues.
“Many caregivers in Ukraine are currently facing high levels of stress, displacement, and limited access to parenting or psychosocial support. The chatbot provides timely, practical advice,” said Nataliia Ludyn, World Vision’s Education in Emergency Technical Specialist.
World Vision prioritises child-centred, community-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Ukraine, integrated within its education, child protection, and livelihood programmes. Key interventions include Child-Friendly Spaces, Play and Learning Hubs, Psychological First Aid, and Problem Management Plus (PM+) for adults. In addition, multidisciplinary mobile teams are deployed with local partners to reach isolated areas.
Since the start of the response in 2022, World Vision has reached over 638,000 children in Ukraine with protection, psychosocial support, education, and basic needs services.
Notes to Editor:
About World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe:
World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe (WV MEER) is a regional office of World Vision International, a global Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children. WV MEER works across more than 15 fragile and crisis-affected contexts to protect children, strengthen families, and build resilient communities through humanitarian response, development programmes, child participation, and advocacy.
About Parenting for Lifelong Health:
Parenting for Lifelong Health is a charity hosted by the University of Oxford. It develops, tests, and scales evidence-based parenting programmes that promote positive parenting, improve mental health, and reduce violence against children worldwide.
About the Parenting in Crisis Chatbot:
The Parenting in Crisis Chatbot is a free, rules-based tool co-designed with caregivers from Ukraine by Parenting for Lifelong Health and adapted collaboratively with World Vision. It provides emotional support, parenting tips, and well-being resources for caregivers in crisis-affected settings. The chatbot adheres to World Vision’s strict data protection policies, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
For further information, please contact:
Laurentia Jora | Advocacy & Communications Manager | Email: laurentia_jora@wvi.org