PCK provides psychosocial support to refugees from Ukraine

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental disorders affectone in fivepeople who have suffered as a result of armed conflicts. It is estimated that more than 15 million people in Ukraine need psychosocial support to cope with the new reality. The lack of appropriate psychological care can result in a deterioration of the condition of those affected by the conflict.

The needs regarding the mental health of individuals affected by the conflict in Ukraine are continuously growing. Affected people still experience unimaginable stress, regardless of whether they are in regions directly affected by the war or have fled to neighboring countries. The constant fear for loved ones, one’s possessions, as well as the uncertainty of returning home will have a lasting impact on the mental health of those affected by this experience.

Therefore the Polish Red Cross launches a psychological helpline dedicated to refugees from Ukraine, who arrived in Poland after February 24, 2022. The helpline is available from Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Psychologists on duty at the Helpline will provide immediate psychological assistance to those in need, and, in special cases, refer them to specialists.

The number for people calling from the territory of Poland

+48 800 088 136

The number for people calling from abroad

+48 221 520 620

The helpline is part of the international project #EU4Health,the aim of which is to provide psychological support to individuals affected by armed conflict in Ukraine, both those who remained in their homeland and those who decided to leave for the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.

The #EU4Health project is being implemented by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the IFRC Psychological Center, and six National Red Cross Societies (in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine). The project would not be possible without financial support from the European Union.

In addition to the psychological helpline, the #EU4Health project will include a range of training sessions for staff and volunteers of the Polish Red Cross aimed at enhancing the qualifications of our personnel in providing psychological first aid to individuals in crisis situations. Additionally, the project includes workshops on supporting the emotional state of PCK personnel (staff and volunteers).

Employees of humanitarian organizations are exposed to increased risks of adverse mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, burnout, or increased substance use. To ensure high-quality support to communities in crisis situations, we, as PCK, must take care of the psychosocial well-being and prevent burnout among our staff and volunteers. We want PCK volunteers and staff to be well prepared to overcome the challenges arising from their activities. So far, 94 people have benefited from the training under the project.#EU4Health zrealizowanych zostanie szereg szkoleń dla pracowników i wolontariuszy Polskiego Czerwonego Krzyża, których celem jest podniesienie kwalifikacji naszego personelu w niesieniu pierwszej pomocy psychologicznej osobom będącym w kryzysowych sytuacjach. Dodatkowo w projekcie przewidziane są warsztaty dot. wsparcia stanu emocjonalnego personelu PCK (pracowników i wolontariuszy).

Pracownicy organizacji humanitarnych są narażeni na zwiększone ryzyko wystąpienia niekorzystnych warunków zdrowia psychicznego, w tym lęku, depresji, wypalenia zawodowego lub zwiększonego używania substancji psychoaktywnych. Aby zapewnić wysokiej jakości pomoc społecznością znajdujących się w kryzysowych sytuacjach, musimy, jako PCK zadbać o dobrostan psychospołeczny oraz zapobiec wypaleniu zawodowemu wśród naszego personelu i wolontariuszy. Zależy nam aby, wolontariusze i pracownicy PCK byli dobrze przygotowani do przezwyciężenia wyzwań wynikających z prowadzonych przez nich działań. Dotychczas w ramach projektu ze szkoleń skorzystały 94 osoby.