Empowering children in Armenia through mental health support
With the support of USAID, UNICEF offers crucial psychological support sessions to children across Armenia in cooperation with the Parenting School NGO.
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Last September, Mariam, 8, was on her way to school when shelling began. Despite being just kilometres away, Mariam was only able to reunite with her mother later that evening.
"My friend and I went into the shelter. She told me, 'Mariam, don't cry, this is only a movie,'"
Despite the horrors unfolding around her, Mariam gathered her resolve and began to weave a fairy tale for her neighbour’s one-year-old child. Storytelling helped drown out the sound of explosions.
"When my mom finally arrived and I saw her, I was relieved," says Mariam.
The escalation of hostilities in September 2023 forced 30,000 children to seek refuge in Armenia. Many families had to start from scratch, having fled their homes with just the basics. In response to the influx of refugees to Armenia, UNICEF and partners provided mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS), reaching more than 24,000 children, adolescents and caregivers.
“For tens of thousands of people, displacement marks the beginning of a post-traumatic period, rife with incomprehensible emotions, suppressed feelings and hurdles that must be overcome to move forward. That's why UNICEF, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and in collaboration with the Parenting School NGO, offers mental health and psychosocial support services to children and caregivers affected by the conflict. We are reaching children with one-on-one support and group sessions in Yerevan, Aragatsotn, Armavir, Ararat and Kotayk regions to help them heal and recover,”
Through the support sessions, Mariam received a set of guides and books to further help her at home and reinforce what the sessions have addressed. She particularly loves one story about a canary (‘Deghdzanik’ in Armenian - read here), which she sees as a mirror of her family's journey.
"My favourite fairy tale is 'Deghdzanik’. I relate to her because, like me, she was content living happily in her homeland before the storms arrived. Like me, she had to flee her city, but now she's making new friends and singing again,”
Mariam's mother, Christine, has seen her daughter's demeanour transformed.
"She used to sit by the window, lost in thought. Now, she's out in the yard, making friends. She has become close with our neighbour's daughter and spends much time with her new friends after school.”
"This box was given to me during the sessions to jot down all the happy moments and stash them inside,” adds Mariam. “And in this book, I've written down where or with whom I find solace during sad moments."
Mariam hopes to attend the sessions again, having relished the fun and fulfilling activities. During the sessions, children and youth take part in games, express their emotions through drawing, enact situations and connect with peers who have experienced similar situations. There are four age groups, with each group following a tailored programme developed to accommodate age-specific needs.
"In February and March, we worked with 206 parents, children and teenagers," says Anna Velitsyan, head of the Parenting School NGO. “The aim was to stabilise the emotional expressions, cultivate self-regulation skills, encourage the discovery and utilisation of internal resources, and fortify mechanisms for coping with challenging situations. Children receive manuals covering various topics of self-support and self-regulation in Armenian, along with therapeutic fairy tales.”
Twelve-year-old Nina also took part in the sessions. When she and her family first fled to Armenia, she felt a need to sleep next to Barsik, her fluffy grey cat. Now, after attending the sessions, she is able to sleep alone.
"At first, when I felt sad, I would cry and look at photos, which only made me more upset,” says Nina. “But during the sessions, we learned an interesting breathing exercise. I try to practice it whenever I need to pour out my emotions.”
Adolescence can already be challenging, even without the added burden of displacement.
"My mom mentioned this course – five sessions in total – and I reluctantly agreed to participate,” says Nina. “However, I soon realised I wanted to see a psychologist and delve deeper into some of the issues."
Nina now attends individual counselling sessions, where she has learned to better cope with and control bouts of aggression or indifference, and difficulty to express her emotions. The guidebooks and resources provided by UNICEF and partners have helped to further reinforce her growth to effectively communicate her feelings.
"These books help with strategies to overcome various challenges and cope with emotions. I don't read them daily, but knowing they're on my desk comforts me. I refer to them when needed, going over what I have discussed during my sessions.”
The Parenting School's Anna Velitsyan has seen the effectiveness of group sessions, which often lead children to seek further assistance from individual psychologists. These specialists often receive thank you cards during their final sessions.
"Undoubtedly, addressing deep-seated issues requires more than five meetings,” says Anna. “However, the topics covered, practical exercises and skills acquired provide a solid foundation for children to attain stability and self-confidence. Moreover, the materials and manuals provided at the course's conclusion contain numerous techniques to help individuals navigate emotional turmoil and find inner strength to progress.”
The stories of Nina, Mariam, and other refugee children and adolescents extend beyond mere statistics, underscoring the depth of their emotions and their resilience in starting anew, akin to Deghdzanik's journey, and inspiring others to do the same.
Through critical interventions spanning child protection, mental health, nutrition, education, cash assistance, and social protection, UNICEF continues to deliver results that positively impact the lives of children across Armenia.
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This article is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
