Background information

The Volunteer Network of Pastors was convened by the Mental Health Department of the Ministry of Social Affairs to support War Refugees in Ukraine in accommodation centres. The voluntary network consists of 70 pastors, chaplains and clergymen from different member churches and congregations of the Estonian Council of Churches, whose qualifications correspond to the profession of pastor or chaplain and who are fluent in Estonian, Russian and English at the level of communication.

The Ministry of Education and Research together with the Estonian Association of School Psychologists opened a school psychologists phone line in 2021, which in light of the Ukrainian war includes Ukrainian-speaking psychologists.

Content of measure

In addition to psychosocial crisis assistance provided by the Social Insurance Board, the Ukrainian refugees have the possibility to talk to chaplains and pastors in the accommodation centres. They provide a special kind of mental health service - it is not a psychological help or treatment, rather they provide empathetic communication, spiritual support, listening, relieving emotional distress, empowering coping, finding strength and hope for further living.

School children, parents and education employees have the possibility to receive psychological assistance from Ukrainian-speaking school psychologists via special free-of-charge phone line. It is opened once a week at evening for 4 hours.

Use of measure

No information available.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Children (minors) Parents Migrants or refugees Students

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement as case not in social partner domain	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement

Views and reactions

No information

Sources

• 22 March 2022: Koolipsühholoogide nõuandeliin alustab kõnedele vastamist ka ukraina keeles (School psychologists' hotline also starts answering calls in Ukrainian) (koolipsyhholoogid.ee)
• 08 April 2022: Majutuskeskustes on valmis Ukraina sõjapõgenikele tuge pakkuma 70 hingehoidjat (Support to War Refugees in Ukraine in accommodation centres) (www.sm.ee)