In 2025, the Russian Red Cross (RRC) recorded a steady increase in demand for in-person psychological support. Over the course of the year, 86,145 people received
in-person consultations with the RRC psychologists — 34 % more than in the previous year. The strong demand for face-to-face sessions is also reflected in the RRC annual sociological survey conducted jointly with the research company ROMIR: 45 % of respondents prefer an in-person visit to a psychologist, 15 % choose written consultations, 14 % prefer calling a hotline, and 13 % opt for online sessions. At the same time, men remain less likely to seek psychological support: 16 % of men reported that they would not consult a specialist at all, compared to 10 % among women.
Overall, in 2025 more than 255,000 people received psychosocial support fr om the RRC in various formats. Assistance was provided by phone, online, and in person, as well as through programs aimed at supporting vulnerable groups, refugees and displaced persons, and people affected by emergencies and crisis situations. As part of these programs, specialists travel directly to regions and communities wh ere support is most urgently needed, addressing not only the consequences of crises but also working proactively to prevent further hardship.
“We see that more and more people are choosing in-person sessions with a psychologist and are willing to speak openly about their mental health. This is an important indicator of trust and of changing attitudes towards mental health in society. It is essential for the Russian Red Cross to develop all formats of support in parallel — in-person, remote, and outreach services. Our goal is not only to respond to crises, but to build a system in which seeking psychological support is no longer a last resort and becomes as natural as caring for one’s physical health,” said Maria Mukhina, Executive Director of the Russian Red Cross.
In 2025, the RRC Psychological First Aid (PFA) hotline handled 52,424 calls, which is nearly 50 % more than in 2024. The most common reason for contacting the hotline was the need for support in adapting after crisis events, accounting for nearly 29,000 calls, or 55 % of the total. Other frequent topics included support during exacerbations of mental health conditions, depressive symptoms, and suicidal thoughts or intentions. In addition to providing immediate support, hotline specialists also inform callers about available additional assistance options. The majority of callers were women (82 %), and almost all calls were made by adults (98.8 %).
Online support also remains in high demand, including among children and adolescents. In 2025, more than 33,000 requests were processed through the RRC psychological support chatbot, with over 35 % submitted by children and adolescents. The most common topics included stress and coping, love and relationships, depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, and parent–child relationships.
The RRC Psychosocial Support Service continues to operate nationwide, providing access to psychological support in various formats and adapting its services to the evolving needs of people.
The Russian Red Cross PFA hotline (8 800 250-18-59) continues to operate daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Moscow time. In addition, you can use RRC chatbot, @psy_rrc_bot, on Telegram for professional psychological assistance from 9 a.m. to 00:00 a.m. Moscow time.
