To achieve one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – “Good Health and Well-being”, the Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology actively works to promote mental health not only among university students but also among schoolchildren in the city of Sumy.
On November 7, 2025, an event titled “The Nature of Stress: From Biological Mechanisms to Psychological Consequences” was held by Associate Professor of the Department Antonina BIESEDINA and student of group МЦм-305 Iryna KUSOVNYK. The participants of the event were 11th grade students of Sumy Secondary School No. 24.
The event aimed to provide knowledge about the phenomenon of stress, which enables organisms to adapt to various environmental conditions through a universal complex of neurohumoral reactions. Different approaches to understanding the concept of stress, its causes, forms, dynamics, and evaluation were discussed. Special attention was given to the physiological mechanisms of stress and its psychological consequences.
Regardless of its causes, stress generally follows a similar pattern, progressing according to certain stages. Initially, a state of anxiety arises, followed by the body’s mobilization of all its resources to combat the stress and its causes. In the third phase, there are two possible outcomes: either the individual and their body successfully cope with the stress and return to normal, or the body’s defensive resources—being limited—become depleted. This occurs when stress persists for a long time or when stressful situations are so frequent that the body has no time to recover. In such cases, a person’s condition turns into chronic stress, which can lead to various neurotic disorders. The event was specifically aimed at preventing such conditions.
Acquiring knowledge, skills, and methods of stress management and neutralization allows students to achieve an optimal level of functioning and psychological well-being. As a result of the event, the students learned how to cope with stress, how to control it, and how to maintain emotional balance. The event also helped students develop resilience and sparked interest in studying at the Educational and Scientific Medical Institute.
