Just a call away: Psychosocial support for those affected by the war
Published: Dec 2, 2025 Reading time: 4 minutes Share: Share an articleThe war in Ukraine has destroyed not only cities and lives, but also the inner peace of millions. Behind every statistic lies a story of loss, anxiety, and longing—stories of people forced from their homes in order to survive. For many, finding refuge has not marked the end of their suffering, but the beginning of a new struggle: with their trauma.
In this context, the REthink Centre for Counselling and Personal Development, a partner of our team at People in Need Moldova, provides psychological support, a less visible but equally essential form of support.
REthink specialists offer free psychosocial counselling to anyone struggling with the emotional impact of the war—refugees and host community members alike. Services are available across the Republic of Moldova, including in the Transnistrian region.
To overcome distance barriers, REthink provides phone, online, and face-to-face counselling. This ensures that a person living within Chișinău can receive support just as easily as someone without. Under the PLACE II consortium, through the organisation’s support helpline the “Green Line”, REthink has assisted around 460 people. Approximately 60 have benefited from repeated one-to-one sessions on the online platform. Additionally, 86 participants have taken part in recreational and psychosocial group activities such as board games and art therapy, designed to promote emotional healing, creative expression, relaxation, and community bonding. These sessions are also organised on the left bank of the Nistru River, in cities like Tiraspol and Bender, bringing refugees and host communities closer together.
Since REthink began its collaboration with the PLACE consortium, more than 3,000 people have received psychosocial support through the Green Line, and over 720 people have attended individual counselling sessions: personalised assistance for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and other psychosocial challenges. Approximately 80% of all callers are refugees from Ukraine. Every call represents a story of suffering, but also one of resilience. For those who have lost everything, sometimes a calm voice on the other end of the line becomes the first step toward healing.
Although REthink primarily serves local residents and refugees in Moldova, its flexible counselling model allows specialists to support beneficiaries who have moved away, regardless of if they returned to Ukraine or resettled in other countries. Changing one’s location does not make emotional struggles disappear. For many refugees, continuity of psychological support is vital, especially when opening up to a new specialist can feel overwhelming.
Sometimes, calls for help come not only from the farthest parts of the country, but from abroad. Such was the case with Natalia, a young mother from Odesa who contacted REthink from Romania
Natalia’s story: From longing and grief to hope
Natalia left Ukraine in the spring of 2022, at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. After spending time in Moldova, she moved on to Bucharest, trying to build a new life.
Isolation, a lack of support, and the language barrier became increasingly overwhelming. A few months ago, Natalia gave birth to her child. What should have been a time of joy was overshadowed by postnatal depression and, later, by the sudden death of her mother, who had travelled from Ukraine and passed away shortly after.
The specialists from the Romanian Midwives Association, who were assisting her, quickly realised she needed psychosocial support. They began searching for a psychologist who spoke Ukrainian or Russian, but after several unsuccessful attempts, they found help... in Moldova.
Her case was taken over by Laura Marta, a psychologist from REthink. Their first session took place over the phone, but a fortunate coincidence brought them even closer: Laura happened to be in Bucharest for professional training.
After Laura returned to Chișinău, her connection with Natalia continued, and long-distance sessions remained a constant source of support.
“Talking to Laura helps me enormously. She told me I could call anytime, and this gives me a sense of safety. This is my first experience with a psychologist, and it’s very positive,” says the young mother.
Laura highlights the importance of flexible counselling formats:
“This is the strength of the REthink model: support doesn’t stop at our office door, nor outside the capital, nor at the border. No matter where the person is, help is always just a call away.”
If you need psychosocial support, you can contact REthink’s 24/7 Green Line at 0 800 700 85. More information about REthink is available at www.rethink.center, where you can also schedule an online counselling session.
