On stage

AF

Alex Finn

Moderator · KI Insights

PJ

Paul Joyal

Warriors Advance Foundation

GN

Gilly Norton

Supporting Wounded Veterans

JH

Jeff Hartman

Ukrainian Action

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Vladyslav Klochkov

Center for Traumatic Stress

The panel reframed veteran mental-health support from treating disorders toward post-traumatic growth, emphasising mission, community and family. Joyal described the US Warriors Advance peer-community model, Hartman outlined Ukrainian Action's ski- and sport-based "Ukrainian Action Heroes" programme (including bringing in spouses), and Norton discussed sports rehabilitation and medical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant PTSD. Klochkov presented the Ukraine Center for Traumatic Stress, citing the scale of Ukraine's projected mental-health crisis and the need for triage, qualified specialists, research and international cooperation. An audience exchange highlighted the role of chaplains and faith.

The substance

Key takeaways

1

The panel reframed mental health from treating disorder to promoting growth, stressing that trauma does not inevitably become PTSD and that community and a renewed sense of mission — not medication alone — are what most reliably pull veterans out of isolation.

2

An advisor who survived a targeted attack described a peer-driven, non-prescriptive US program model that builds lasting regional alumni communities of veterans supporting one another, arguing the essential ingredient is respect for each individual warrior rather than a clinical checklist.

3

A wounded Ukrainian veteran testified that purpose was his own antidote to PTSD — staying busy helping other wounded soldiers — while stressing that housing security was the final piece that eased his anxiety, pointing to purpose-built, accessible communities as a model the state should follow.

4

Major General (ret.) Vladyslav Klochkov, who leads Ukraine's Center for Traumatic Stress, presented the scale as the largest humanitarian challenge of its kind since World War Two, with well over a million veterans and a large share already needing psychological support, and framed Ukraine as an active research field for what treatments actually work.

5

Multiple speakers converged on the same practical levers — sport, involving spouses and families, peer groups, and rigorous medical research (including trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant cases) — and on the need to educate a civilian public that still stigmatizes and misunderstands PTSD.

In their words

Key quotes

“

The principle of a warrior is that he has a mission — but after he leaves the service, he still needs a mission.

Paul Joyal

“

PTSD is a great mystery to everybody. It doesn't take any notice of how educated you are, what rank you are.

Jillian "Gilly" Norton

“

Sports and physical recreation are so important, not just for veterans but for everybody.

Jeff Hartman

“

A stable nation is a successful nation, and mental health is, in my opinion, incredibly important.

Vladyslav Klochkov

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