Today, on 23 March, the Ministry of Education and Research of Estonia together with Estonian Association of School Psychologists opened a free of charge Ukrainian-language school psychologists' helpline with the aim to provide an easily accessible opportunity for educational staff, children as well as parents to talk to a qualified school psychologist in a comfortable and anonymous way.
At the informal videoconference of European Union Education Ministers, the Minister of Education of Ukraine Serhiy Shkarlet asked his counterparts from the European Union Member States to find ways to support the mental health of children and young people of Ukraine.
Minister of Education and Research Liina Kersna confirms that Estonia will support Ukraine in every possible way and will ensure that children and young people from Ukraine have the opportunity to continue their education safely at all levels of education. "We will create a safe environment for children and young people who have been through war and provide them with supportive activities to maintain their mental health while they must stay in Estonia. The possibility to receive psychological counselling in their mother tongue is an important step in supporting Ukrainian schoolchildren, parents and people working in education," said Liina Kersna, Minister of Education and Research.
Karmen Maikalu, Head of the Estonian Association of School Psychologists told that school psychologists who speak Ukrainian are ready to provide counselling to school-aged children and young people, as well as adults - parents and teachers or people working in education. "A free and anonymous phone call is a primary and easily accessible point of contact for psychological support, but follow-up counselling is also offered if needed," Maikalu added.
The helpline's Ukrainian-language number 1227 will be open to calls on Wednesdays from 16-20 March, starting from 23 March. The call is free and anonymous.
The Estonian-language (1226, Mon-Fri from 16-20) and Russian-language (1227, Tue from 16-20) helplines will also remain open. The school psychologists' helplines were opened on 1 September by the Ministry of Education and Research and the Association of School Psychologists.
