Project No. 20 –VR Platform for people affected by the war in Sumy State University 

Sumy State University  is a leading research university in Ukraine that systematically integrates digital technologies into the social and healthcare sphere. The project is implemented by an interdisciplinary scientific and technical team from two structural units of the university: the Virtual and Augmented Reality Laboratory Ulab (ulab.sumdu.edu.ua) (software development, 3D modeling of spaces and avatars, server-side synchronization) and the scientific-expert group of the Department of Psychology at Sumy State University (development of recommendations, expert supervision, certification training of psychologists, and analysis of intervention effectiveness).

As a border region, Sumy oblast is subject to constant psychotraumatic impact from artillery and missile strikes and the threat of combat operations. The region has more than 85,000 officially registered internally displaced persons (IDPs), and there is a rapid increase in the number of demobilized service members with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), combat-related stress, and the after-effects of concussions. More than 40% of municipalities’ residents show clinical symptoms of chronic anxiety and depressive disorders.

Analysis of target groups (end beneficiaries for 2027):

• service members and veterans: overcoming symptoms of combat PTSD and hyperarousal, emotional decompression, and adaptation to civilian life
• internally displaced persons and affected civilians: processing the trauma of losing a home, property, or loved ones, and managing acute situational anxiety
• children and adolescents in border areas: neutralizing fear of explosions, nighttime phobias, and psychological withdrawal through trusted contact with a friendly 3D avatar
• family members of Ukraine’s defenders: family crisis counseling, and prevention of secondary traumatization and emotional burnout

The project addresses a key paradox of traditional psychotherapy in wartime: people with the deepest trauma (veterans, victims of violence, adolescents) most avoid direct “face-to-face” contact out of fear of judgment and shame, while border communities physically lack crisis specialists.

The immersive platform does not replace a psychotherapist but is used as an additional tool, remotely guided by a specialist, to facilitate initial contact, psychophysiological stabilization, and targeted work on specific psychological needs under wartime conditions.

The VR environment is applied primarily at the initial stages of intervention, which is critical for establishing initial trust, reducing defensive resistance, and overcoming the barrier of the first appeal for help.

Functional purpose of the platform:

• Initial contact and screening: A “soft,” low-barrier entry point into the psychological and social support system for individuals with a high level of avoidance and trauma-related stigma (combatants with acute PTSD, civilian victims of violence, traumatized adolescents).
• Crisis grounding and remote support: Rapid social and psychological stabilization for people in a zone of constant psychogenic stress, under threat of shelling, or in conditions of geographic isolation in border communities.
• Safe social interaction trainer: An adaptive intermediate bridge for patients with secondary social phobia, agoraphobia, autism spectrum symptoms, and desocialization before their transition to in-person communication and group rehabilitation.

The essence of the asymmetric tele-psychology model:

• The patient at a community VR hub is immersed in a simulated safe biophilic environment (pine forest, mountain panorama, fireplace hall, etc.), which reduces heart rate and cortisol levels, after which they choose a visual 3D image of an interlocutor for verbal contact (Avatar-Mediated Therapy). The avatar barrier reduces psychological resistance in the first minutes of the conversation.
• The psychologist does not need a VR headset: the specialist connects via a secure mobile application from their smartphone from any safe location, conducting the conversation, observing the patient’s behavior, and filling out a standardized electronic record.

Potential framework of partnerships

Sumy State University has already created a functional prototype of the platform, avatar-generation modules, WebRTC channels, and a server core. The Department of Psychology has established methodological foundations for psychological correction.

The donor’s role: funding the purchase of 10 headsets, a year of software R&D improvement, scientific supervision by the department, and motivational payments to 10 psychologists at the centers — turning the research and development effort into a sustainable regional service network.

The project envisions a 12-month schedule of work in 2027, in which technical preparation is integrated with clinical practice:

• Phase 1: R&D, protocol development, and hub setup (6 months): Intensive R&D improvement of the software component by the Ulab team: expansion of the library of 3D avatars and locations; development of VR therapy protocols by department researchers; procurement of 10 headsets; training and certification of 10 psychologists at the pilot centers.
• Phase 2: Client pilot and scientific supervision (6 months): Deployment of 5 workstations in community centers, conducting 1,000+ immersive sessions for 300+ unique individuals; weekly supervision and oversight by department researchers; technical support and platform updates; final report and presentation of results.