society
Telephone counseling: Many callers are afraid because of the war
People of all ages express their fears about the Ukraine war when they call counseling over the phone. Photo: Daniel Reinhardt/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
If you need someone to talk to, you can call the counseling service. Since the Russian attack on Ukraine, this topic has taken up a lot of the attention. Lots of people worry.
Because of the war in Ukraine, many people are calling the telephone counseling service.
Almost every fifth conversation revolves around this topic, said Ludger Storch, head of the Bochum telephone counseling service, the German Press Agency. About a third of those callers expressed severe anxiety or had panic attacks, said the head of the statistics working group.
“The main concern is the fear that the war will come to us and destroy our lives,” said Annelie Bracke, head of the Catholic telephone counseling service in Cologne. Some callers would have concrete images in front of them, such as their home being bombed or their loved ones being killed. “Many feel powerless because they don’t know how the war is developing.”
The callers are people of all ages, said Bracke. There are many younger people who are afraid of the future, but also some older people who now feel reminded of their own war experiences.
Storch: It’s important to voice your fears
Immediately after the start of the Russian attack on February 24, numerous calls were made to the telephone counseling service, Storch said. In the first few days, a quarter of the conversations were about this topic, meanwhile it is still about 18 percent. The number of people seeking advice via chat or email has increased significantly. “Mainly people who have no opportunity to talk to anyone else about it report,” said Storch.
“In the case of fears, it is generally important that you speak them out,” explained Bracke. “That’s a relief.” For the consultants, active listening is paramount. “The worries must not be appeased, they must be taken seriously.” Bracke advised that those who are very afraid of the Ukraine crisis should not watch the news all day long. Everyday routines could help distract you.