Men's psychological support line 2345 has resumed work: how it works and why it is important

Men's psychological support line 2345 has resumed work: how it works and why it is important

November 17 The Psychological Support Hotline for Men 2345 is resuming its work in Ukraine - a specialized service created to ensure that every man can receive support in a difficult moment.

This is not just a hotline, but a space where you can talk about what really bothers you - without judgment, without formalities, and without fear.

"The mission of the Men's Helpline 2345 is to create a safe, accessible space where men can speak up. We strive to ensure that everyone has access to professional support when they need it. 2345 helps men overcome stress, emotional difficulties or crises, and promotes a healthy approach to their own well-being.", - notes Jacqueline Mahon.

Working principles

Men's psychological support line 2345 operates in the component of preventing domestic and gender-based violence and operates on four key principles: 

  • Anonymity — The line does not collect phone numbers or personal data. Only aggregated statistics that do not allow the identification of the client may be recorded.
  • Privacy — conversations are not recorded, stored, or passed on to third parties.
  • Non-directivity — a consultant does not give advice or tell you “what to do.” He helps you find your own solution.
  • Gender sensitivity — understanding the context of men's lives, social expectations, and barriers that often prevent them from seeking help.

“The line adheres to the principle of respect and impartial treatment of persons who contact the support line; voluntariness of receiving help, principles of non-discrimination, professionalism, and quick access to psychological support services,” says Anastasia Glazkova, coordinator of the hotline for men. 

Who provides advice on the line?

The Line is staffed by professional counselors, psychologists, who have undergone specialized training at the School of Counselors organized by the NGO "La Strada - Ukraine" together with UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine.

During the four-day training, specialists/officers strengthened their knowledge in the following topics:

  • crisis counseling;
  • working with gender-based violence, including domestic violence;
  • combating bullying in educational institutions
  • specifics of hotline counseling;
  • prevention of suicidal behavior;
  • working with loss, grief and trauma;
  • self-support techniques and burnout prevention.

“Psychologists advise men on issues of emotional state (symptoms of anxiety and depression, difficulty controlling anger, identification of PTSD), prevention of domestic violence, relationships with loved ones, grief and loss, and loneliness, and also refer them to other specialized services,” explains Anastasia Glazkova, coordinator of the hotline for men. 

Everyone comes with their own pain and experiences. Most often, men talk about:

  • stress, anxiety, apathy;
  • difficulties in relationships, conflicts in the family;
  • feelings of guilt, loss, loneliness;
  • aggression, irritation, emotional exhaustion;
  • post-traumatic reactions related to war.

"The full-scale war has created an unprecedented level of emotional and psychological stress on men in Ukraine. They simultaneously bear responsibility for family, work, service, security and often do not allow themselves to ask for support. In this context, Line 2345 becomes a critically important resource. It lowers the barriers to seeking help and provides an opportunity to talk about their experiences with a specialist who understands the realities of wartime", — Jacqueline Mahon.

What helps you take the first step?

Many men admit that the hardest thing is dialing a number for the first time.

Simple things help:

  1. The realization that you are not alone.
  2. Anonymity
  3. Lack of judgment - here they do not evaluate or impose decisions.
  4. The ability to end the conversation at any time when you feel like enough is enough.

“Support not only helps to cope with stress, anxiety or aggression - it makes it possible to maintain resilience, clarity of thought and the ability to act. In the context of war, this is critically important: a lot often depends on the emotional state. Seeking support is a way to take care of yourself in order to have the strength to move on,” notes Maryna Lehenka, president of the NGO “La Strada-Ukraine”.

Full-scale war created a huge level of psychological stress for men.

They often feel responsibility, pressure of expectations, fear, or powerlessness.

“Psychological consultations help to cope with stress, guilt, anxiety, fatigue, and regain a sense of control over life,” emphasizes Anastasia Glazkova, coordinator of the hotline for men.

Line number: 2345

Working hours: daily from 2:00 PM to 6:00 AM

Anonymously and for free.

The project is implemented by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine, with the support of Sweden in cooperation with the public human rights organization "La Strada - Ukraine".