ReACT: Digital Solutions for Researchers’ Mental Well-being

Berdyansk State Pedagogical University (BSPU), as a participant of the international project ReACT (Researchers’ act: training for psychological flexibility and work-related stress management), implemented with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme in partnership with universities and research institutions from Romania, Portugal, Switzerland, and Türkiye, is working on the creation of an innovative psychoeducational program for researchers aimed at developing psychological flexibility and managing work-related stress.

Recently, the project released the Work Package 2 (WP2) Report titled “Web-based programs supporting researchers in academia”, which provides an overview of modern digital programs and interventions designed to promote researchers’ mental health.
The report was prepared by the School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto (Portugal) and reviewed by the University of Bucharest (Romania), with contributions from BSPU researchers – Nataliia Tsybuliak, Hanna Lopatina, and Anastasiia Popova.

The report presents examples of effective web-based interventions – from short mindfulness practices and breathing exercises to online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches and well-being literacy programs.

Its findings show that digital solutions are accessible, scalable, and effective, though they require long-term engagement strategies and integration into university policies to ensure sustainable impact.

The results of this work package will serve as the foundation for the next stages of ReACT – the development of a web platform featuring eight training modules based on the psychological flexibility model, designed to help researchers cope with stress, maintain work–life balance, and build sustainable self-care habits.

This initiative marks an important step toward fostering a culture of mental health care in the academic environment across Ukraine and Europe.

Read the full report here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jyzFYiddjv9jeL8SR3ts6QbAmUrxdOyS/view

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Based on materials by Nataliia Tsybuliak, Anastasiia Popova, and Hanna Lopatina