AMPHORA helps treat those impacted by Ukrainian conflict

Dr Karen Burnell, Associate Professor of Applied Psychology, is one of the co-founders of the AMPHORA Project which has developed toolkits for people running or taking part in archaeological projects aimed at delivering public mental health and wellbeing benefits.

The AMPHORA toolkits are being used by a Ukrainian initiative - based at the historical monastery of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, called "Spiritual Recovery Through Culture" - which uses archaeology as well as heritage crafts to help improve the wellbeing of Ukrainian military personnel.

Supported by the AMPHORA guidelines, Dr Taranenko is working with the Ukrainian Association of Archaeologists (UAA) to develop a hugely expanded nation-wide scheme, based on his work at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve. He says,

“After the successful use of the AMPHORA program in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve during 2023-24, I decided to spread relevant information throughout Ukraine. This was helped by colleagues from the UAA, which has 26 branches throughout the country, and begins with a seminar series of five lectures.”

Karen learned of AMPHORA’s impact in Ukraine when she, and the project’s co-founder, Dr Paul Everill from the University of Winchester, met the project leader, Dr Sergiy Taranenko, at the ‘Archaeology for Recovery’ conference held at Bournemouth University last summer.

Karen, who will be giving an online talk on AMPHORA’s development and implementation to the UAA this month, says,

“Learning that the AMPHORA guidelines had been adopted by the "Spiritual Recovery Through Culture" project has been a very humbling experience. When we developed the guidelines, we were hopeful they would promote better practice nationally, with scope for international use. The fact that they have been so useful in supporting mental health and wellbeing in a conflict is testament to their genuine usefulness and inherent flexibility.”

With plans in place for Karen and Paul to work with Dr Taranenko and his colleagues to develop bespoke ‘AMPHORA-Ukraine’ guidelines for the UAA, Karen says,

“We look forward to working closely with the team to make further adaptations to the guidelines that will help in the rehabilitation of the Armed Forces now and in the future.”

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Dr Karen Burnell specialises in applied psychology, with a particular focus on veteran studies, psychogerontology, mental health and wellbeing, and research methodologies. Over the years, Karen has explored the role of social support in mental health and wellbeing and, more specifically, peer support, and has evaluated community-based interventions for veterans.