The ability to diagnose PTSD - trauma and mental health conditions early on, for example in the absence of a physical penetrating injury (concussion), prevents the development of chronic diseases and subsequent long-term higher costs of treatment. Addressing the invisible disability early also supports a smoother return to normal living and work.

Consistency of engagement allows for depth and development of work within the specific location and context at hand. Privileging approaches that extend to all stakeholders and aspects of rehabilitation, ensure sustainable change and resilience.

Clinical supervision as recommended by WHO (six-months minimum post mhGap-IG and mhGap-HIG training for non-mental health practitioners) sets a long-term engagement with the dual benefit of increasing the number of qualified personnel, and crucially, reducing the likelihood of negative consequences from medical error. Clinical supervision ensures prescription of medication only when necessary, empathetic treatment is offered, along with effective personalised treatments. It also prevents retraumatization (more harmful itself than lack of psychological support and treatment) and avoids burn-out in humanitarian professionals and caregivers.

Mental health and medical efforts are more effective when peer-to-peer support involving both veterans and families is offered concurrently. Families need to understand the symptoms and impact of PTSD to be able to identify trauma and support veteran through the healing process as well as deal with the behaviours, attitudes and conflict that cause family breakdown. Overstretched mental health professionals struggle providing the range of support needed for a full rehabilitation. Veteran support groups and organisations often lack the knowledge and capacity to offer stable and continuous veteran to veteran services. Strengthening the capacities of peer-to-peer groups and veterans' non-governmental organizations alongside Veteran Rehabilitation Centres, which focus on socialisation and economic support, ensures sustainable community development by empowering veterans and fostering resilience. Сonclusion - the need for peer support is identified by the NGO psychologists and the members veterans' non-governmental organizations, they are currently working with. Allocate seed funding for veteran peer support initiatives/veteran centres enabling stable reintegration in a productive society.

Ukraine specific evidence on the mental health of conflict and post conflict affected people, female veterans, the well-being of veteran spouses and children, housing for veterans is urgently needed. During the war (2014-2020), there were only two research projects investigating resilience and post-traumatic growth (Johns Hopkins University and Wesleyan University). There is no single center (as the US - National Center for PTSD) for policy advice, research findings implementation, training, prevention and treatment of PTSD and depression, and quality control of services provided. Research is a cornerstone to any institutional-initiated mental health intervention with respect to the efficacy of the interventions used. Ukraine must be able to join the West in support of implementing evidence-based interventions. Ukrainian graduate students and selected mental health professionals need to learn to measure what interventions work, with who and when, and for how long, as well as learning about controlling confounding variables. Ultimately, such research could benefit American and other mental professionals who treat PTSD.

Army/Special Police/National Guard deployed in the de-occupied territories to foster reconstruction it will need special conflict resolution skills to work with the civilian communities. In its efforts to restore stability, the UA army will need to address grievances from both communities in a sensitive manner which is perceived as fair by all those involved. Drawing from the experience of NATO, UK and USA troops for example in the Balkans and Iraq, there are conflict resolution methods and skills that have been proven effective, and will promote a sense of civic belonging and inclusivity (for example methods included in the Understand to Prevent, the military contribution to the prevention of violent conflict handbook

Training the Ukrainian army in conflict-resolution methods, and evidenced-based listening skills (warmth, empathy, and genuineness), and other means to create social connection and positive meaning holds promise for the victims of conflict-ridden areas to co-create positive solutions.

As a result of the second phase in the healthcare reform, the provision of services will decrease in rural/remote areas. Other/more service providers are needed especially in small communities where the cost of providing healthcare is greater. The development of creative cost effective initiatives to address the gaps (for example mobile units using existing public centers, online support) is urgently needed