Are you anxious about the situation in Ukraine? If you wish to discuss your concerns, help is available.

25.2.2022 10.23Updated: 17.3.2022 6.27

Many Espoo residents are following the news from Ukraine with concern. News about the war raise emotions and may bring back memories. You do not have to be alone with your thoughts and feelings; help is available. We encourage people to keep in touch with their older relatives, to ask how they are doing and to offer them support

We encourage you to talk about your feelings

During home care visits, we have already noticed that many of our elderly clients react strongly to the situation in Ukraine, as many of them have had difficult experiences and have memories of war. As we visit clients in their homes, we also provide support and soothing. We at Elderly Services will contact those clients who, to our knowledge, do not have a support network. However, we cannot reach all the elderly people in Espoo. We therefore hope that as many people as possible will contact their older relatives, listen to their concerns and offer them support. 

Support for dealing with the crisis

If you are anxious about the situation and wish to discuss your concerns, you can call the helpline of Espoo’s mental health and substance abuse services, tel. +358 9 81631300. The line is open Mon–Fri 8:00–16:00.

You can also contact Western Uusimaa Social and Crisis Emergency Services, tel. +358 9 81642439. The line is open around the clock every day of the year.

  • The crisis hotline of MIELI Mental Health Finland also offers help:
  • in Finnish, tel. +358 9 25250111 around the clock;
  • in Swedish, Kristelefon, tel. +358 9 25250112, Mon and Wed 16:00–20:00, Tue, Thu and Fri 9:00–13:00. On Fridays, also in English.
  • in Arabic, +358 9 25250113, Mon and Tue 11:00–15:00, Wed 13:00–16:00 and 17:00–21:00, Thu 10:00–15:00. You can also speak English.

How to discuss the crisis with your child

You can find help and advice for discussing the situation with your child on the website of the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish).

  • Ukraine