Psychological support for coping during difficult times

The situation in Ukraine concerns all members of the university family, directly or indirectly. Some of us are thinking of their close ones in the war zone, others are affected economically by the crisis. Most of us follow the news from Ukraine with concern. Feeling anxious and confused in this situation is a natural and understandable reaction. If possible, it is a good idea to keep to your daily routine, take time for your favourite activities and avoid overwhelming yourself with news. You can find a lot of good materials on mental health care on the website peaasi.ee.

If you feel that your life and coping is disrupted, please do not hesitate to ask for help. You can get initial support from people close to you, your family, friends, fellow students and colleagues. Psychological support is available for students from the university’s Counselling Centre (in Estonian, English or Russian) and university staff can get psychological support from staff Counsellor-Chaplain Tõnu Lehtsaar at tonu.lehtsaar@ut.ee (may be contacted in Estonian, English and Russian).

But there are also several other organisations who offer help from outside the university, many of whom also offer their services in English:

• Online counselling: Lahendus.net  (est), Peaasi.ee (est, eng, rus)
• Phone counselling: Eluliin.ee (est, eng, rus)
• Emotional support helpline from 19:00–7:00: 655 8088 (est), 655 5688 (rus)
• Victim Support 116006 (eng, rus), 24/7
• At the Psychiatry Clinic of the Tartu University Hospital, a doctor is on call round the clock; phone 731 8889
• Katriito Kliinik
• Ambromed
• E.G.U. Erapraksis
• AJK Kliinik
• OÜ Jaanson & Lääne
• ProVida Kliinik
• Eesti Pereteraapia Keskus

Help from outside the university is also available in the towns of University of Tartu colleges:

In Pärnu:

• Psühhiaatria ja Psühhoteraapia keskus Sensus
• TK & Partnerid
• Psychotherapist Jana Ots
• Psychologist Kairi Koppel
• Ene Talvist (phone 528 7367)
• Nõustamiskeskus Targad Suhted MTÜ

In Viljandi:

• Viljandi Hospital Psychiatry Clinic
• Südalinna Tervisekeskus

In Narva:

• Narva Haigla vaimse tervise kabinet
• Narva Sotsiaaltöökeskus

In Tallinn:

• Crisis support counselling
• Psychiatry Clinic, phone 617 2650
• Wismari Haigla
• Marienthali Kliinik
• Ülemiste Psühhiaatriakeskus
• Psühhiaatria ja Psühhoteraapia keskus Sensus

The quickest way to get help outside the university is to ask your family physician for condition assessment, initial treatment recommendations and a referral to psychological counselling, if needed.

Let’s stick together and support each other!

UT Counselling Centre main page