The kind of life-changing upheaval caused by armed conflict can have enormous impact on people’s mental well-being. Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers, therefore, not only provide essential material support but also mental health and psychosocial support that is critical to helping people cope and recover. 

Sometimes it’s just a listening ear: helping people to heal invisible wounds and breaking down the stigmas that often make people wary of seeking out mental health services. At times it means providing a safe place or phone hotlines where people can turn to when they need to talk.

This is why National Red Cross Societies in Ukraine and 24 other European countries have united with the IFRC and the IFRC Psychosocial Support Centre to provide vital mental health and psychosocial support services. Funded by the European Union’s EU4Health initiative, these services include special hotlines staffed by trained specialists who speak Ukrainian. Some of those who offer or who coordinate these services are themselves refugees.