In 2024, the Russian Red Cross (RRC) hotline for first psychological aid received 31 305 calls. Regardless of the reason for the call, every individual was provided with initial psychological assistance. Out of the total number of calls, 23 294 were directly related to psychological difficulties, which is 34% more than in 2023 - when there were 17 404 such requests. The most common reasons for these calls were difficulties in returning to normal life after crisis events, anxiety, fears, and depressive symptoms.
The vast majority of inquiries were related to adaptation problems following crisis events – 53% of all requests to the hotline. In second place were calls related to depressive symptoms – their number by 9% in 2024, accounting for 23% of all hotline calls.
“Over the past year, the nature of requests fr om people contacting the first psychological aid hotline has changed. There has been an increase in call related to anxiety and stress that are beyond the individual’s control, linked to the erosion of stability in society and widespread changes, whether due to the pandemic, economic issues, or political instability. At the same time, we are observing positive shifts – people have become more open to discussing their emotional states and problems. This indicates an increase in awareness regarding mental health issues”, emphasizes Leyla Gadzhimagomedova, Head of the Psychosocial Support Service at the Russian Red Cross.
The need of psychological support was particularly acute in March and August 2024.
In March, 97% of all inquiries were related to adaptation problems after traumatic aftermath of the terrorist attack in “Crocus City Hall”. At that time, the work of RRC hotline psychologists was switch to a round-the-clock mode, and on peak days – March 22, 23, and 24 – the number of calls reached 370 per day. For comparison, in February, the average number of calls to the first psychological aid line was 70 to 80.
A second sharp increase in the number of calls was recorded in August. After the introduction of the state of emergency in the Kursk Region on August 6, there was a significant rise in requests related to first psychological support and the search for missing relatives. In the first days of the emergency regime, the number of calls reached 470 calls per day, and the total number of calls for the month were 1.5 times higher than the monthly average, reaching the highest value for the entire year. In addition to incoming requests, specialists from RRC hotline also proactively called relatives of missing people to clarify the information and provide them with first psychological aid.
Apart from emergencies, the main peaks in requests for psychological support occurred during the New Year holidays and anniversaries of tragedies. This is due to the influence of seasonal and social factors on people’s psychological state.
“For hotline specialists, it is important to understand when the reinforce shifts in response to an increase in calls. This always happens during emergencies of various scales – from federal to local. Even if the emergency is not large, we are prepared for an increase in the number of calls from the affected region. Additionally, in regions wh ere tragic events have previously occurred, many experience anxiety on the anniversaries of these incidents. Holidays stand out separately – when people are less bust with work, they have more opportunities to reflect on their lives. The information flow is saturated with stories about travel, gifts, and family gatherings, making one’s own life seem less bright and joyful – this can also heighten anxiety. In such moments, it is important to remember that the specialists of RRC first psychological aid hotline work without days off and are always ready to support anyone in need”, said Maria Cherchesova, Coordinator of RRC first psychological aid hotline.
The Russian Red Cross Psychological First aid hotline (8 800 250-18-59) continues to operate daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Moscow time, providing assistance in crisis situations and helping people to cope with psychological and social challenges. In addition, you can use RRC chatbot, @psy_rrc_bot, on Telegram for professional psychological assistance.
