Model for Managing Psychological Safety and Resilience in Educational Institutions during War

Abstract

The article substantiates the need to develop institutional approaches to managing psychological safety and resilience in Ukrainian educational institutions amid the full-scale war. The empirical data of the project «At‑Risk Mental Health Support for Ukrainian Teachers & Students» (short title — «Stress‑Free Education», implemented with the support of the Press, Education and Culture Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, served as the basis for the study and showed a significant deterioration in the psycho‑emotional state of participants in the educational process, a high prevalence of anxiety, stress and depressive manifestations, «perceptual gaps» between groups (administration, teachers, learners, parents), a low level of use of psychological services and insufficient institutional support, which strengthened the need for standardised managerial decisions. The article aims to develop and present an operational model for managing psychological safety and resilience in educational institutions during the war, based on the materials of the handbook and training course «Stress‑Free Education». The research methodology included quantitative analysis of empirical data, qualitative content analysis of the 12‑module handbook, comparison with contemporary approaches to crisis educational management, and expert validation of the model. The article presents the authors’ operational model «Stress‑Free Education», which covers six interrelated components: Governance, Risks, People, Processes, Communication, and Measurement. On the basis of this model, a 12‑month roadmap (preparation — piloting — scaling — institutionalisation), a system of multi‑level metrics (R1–R4), and managerial decisions aimed at reducing stress, increasing resilience, and strengthening the culture of psychological safety were developed. It is shown that a systemic approach combining policies, everyday practices, role‑play interventions, and regular evaluation ensures a much higher sustainability of positive changes compared to one‑off activities. The study demonstrates the high applied value of the model and its potential for scaling under wartime conditions.