With a simple question, Ukrainians probe mental health at a time of war
Ukraine calculates the agony of war in many ways. Lives lost, homes destroyed, families turned into refugees. There's also trauma that's harder to measure — the collective mental health crisis.
KYIV, Ukraine — How are you?
In Ukraine, this question is much more than a casual conversation starter. It's an invitation to express how you're coping with the war.
"This question becomes like a form of love, an act of love. We ask because we understand that it's a part of our inner therapy," said art historian Halyna Hleba.
Hleba is one of the curators of a large art exhibit — called How Are You? — featuring scores of works created by Ukrainians since Russia launched its full-scale invasion 18 months ago.
The paintings, sketches, sculpture and video are on display at Ukrainian House, a sprawling cultural center in Kyiv.
