GAZING INTO THE ABYSS: TOWARD A PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERSTANDING OF ANXIETY AND FEAR.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: This paper deals with anxiety or fear-related disorders and philosophical interpretations of the phenomena of fear and anxiety. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The authors used integrative anthropological approach, interpretive research paradigm, hermeneutical approach. The data collec¬tion was carried out using Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar databases. Research papers were identified according to search terms: "anxiety or fear-related disorders", "fear", "anxiety", "phobia", "psychology", "psychotherapy", "mental health", "philosophy", "being-in-the-world", "human existence". CONCLUSION: Conclusion: It is obvious that philosophical interpretations of the phenomena of fear and anxiety cannot be defined in clinical terms, especially given the fact that modern psychology, psychotherapy, and psychiatry are shifting towards evidence-based practices. Furthermore, there are significant differences in determining the causes that provoke mental health disorders (nature, nurture, their interaction or something else) and accordingly in choosing treatment methods. Apparently, the position of the researchers/practitioners will be determined by their understanding of the root cause. However, more and more researchers are coming to the conclusion that the contemporary world demonstrates the urgent need for an integral, holistic paradigm of a human as an undivided, alive and organic, ideal and material being that should be understood in the context, taking into account the socio-cultural, biological, narrative, self-relational dimensions and his/her ability to transcend them. That is why the most effective way to help people with anxiety or fear-related disorders is to develop "the optimal combination of social assistance, psychological therapy, transpersonal experience, and medical treatment. It should be based on a new transdisciplinary paradigm and implemented by an interdisciplinary team of specialists". In this process, a special role should be assigned to philosophy, which is able to expand horizons and find an approach to the core of a human being.

THE PROBLEM OF ANXIETY AMONG UKRAINIAN STUDENTS ON REMOTE LEARNING DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To explore the students' mental health in general and their anxiety in particular on remote learning during COVID-19 pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The study is based on the material of 112 respondents (85 females and 27 males), interviewed using The Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale-21 (DASS-21) and SAN - the test for emotional state. RESULTS: Results: There are statistically significant differences between the samples of 1st and 2nd year students in terms of "depression" and "stress". The latter are more typical for second-year students. The article argues that, given the COVID-19 pandemic situation and the disruption of normal face-to-face learning, the true causes that determine the indicated trends deserve more extensive and comprehensive research. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: It has been identified that the situation as a whole significantly affected the students' mental health in general and their anxiety level in particular.

CULTURAL AWARENESS IN CONTEMPORARY MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To analyze cultural conditionality of mental health care practice; to explore the relationship between cultural awareness of mental health practitioners, their professional experience and professional status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: It was hypothesized that cultural competence is expected to emerge with professional experience of mental health practitioners. The Sociocultural Awareness Questionnaire was administered to mental health care practitioners - counselors, clinicians, and therapists - (N=62), aged 27 to 65, with professional work experience from 1 to 25 years. The majority of the respondents were from Kyiv (Ukraine). RESULTS: Results: There is no significant correlation between the duration of the period of professional activity of mental health care practitioners and their ideas concerning cultural awareness (r = -0.084, p = 0.515). In the same way there is no statistically significant differences (U = 397.500, p = 0.866) in cultural awareness between two groups of Mental Health care practitioners based on a professional status criterion. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: No professional experience, nor status are the basis for the sociocultural awareness of mental health practitioners. The assumption that cultural competence is expected to emerge with experience has not been confirmed during the pilot study.