Solutions from Ukraine: new initiative empowers female military members with psychological support hotline

The "Women's March" organization is launching a hotline to provide psychological support for women currently serving in the military

Rubryka informs about this.

What is the problem?

Currently, over 60,000 women serve in Ukraine's armed forces, with 45,000 of them being military members. These brave women confront various challenges at frontlines:

• fatigue,
• physical danger,
• and psychological stress, among others.

Furthermore, the mental well-being of female soldiers is influenced by factors such as:

• their relationships with family and loved ones,
• the overall attitudes within their surroundings,
• and their interactions with comrades.

What is the solution?

Over two years ago, the feminist activist group "Women's March" established a hotline to offer psychological support for women in need. In the time since, expert psychologists have provided over 6,000 consultations, including for female military members.

The next step was to launch a new initiative: a psychological support service for women currently in the military.

How does it work?

The service hotline is operated by nine qualified psychologists who have received specialized training in military psychology through their education and mentoring from female colleagues in Israel.

"This psychological support is crucial for our military women as they need the resources to defend our nation effectively and feel comfortable seeking help whenever needed. They can trust that they will not encounter sexism, discrimination, violence, or lack of understanding of their needs, as our psychologists will always be there to provide them with support and assistance," Olena Shevchenko, the head of the "Women's March" organization, says.

Experts will assist Ukrainian women defenders with various requests, including:

• addressing feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and loss of motivation;
• managing mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders;
• dealing with suicidal thoughts;
• facing any form of violence or bullying;
• and navigating challenges in communicating with loved ones.

Psychologists will offer support to members of the military through dedicated online chat rooms. Additionally, they provide a format for free consultations with the option of continuing communication through any preferred method.

"We received many requests from servicewomen for psychological help, so we are happy that we can finally provide it. I know it is difficult for servicewomen to find specialists who can provide qualified help in crises here and now. We have been trained and will be able to be with them by their side in the most difficult situations," Tetiana Pavlova, coordinator of the psychological support service of "Women's March," comments.

How to apply for help

Requests are accepted through Telegram's chatbot (Women's March for Ukraine's armed forces).

For reference:

Rubryka reported on developing "ReStart of Consciousness," a training program specifically designed for female Ukrainian defenders. Its focus is on teaching techniques for managing stress.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has actively started implementing the policy of gender equality in the security and defense sector.