Ministry of Education: About 1,000 Inquiries Received on the "School of Trust" Psychological Assistance Line Since Its Launch
The Russian Ministry of Education has summarized the first interim results of the "School of Trust" psychological assistance line. From September 11 to 24, specialists received almost 1,000 inquiries. Via the single free number +7 (800) 707-02-01, school students, their parents, and teachers can talk about any problematic situations at school. The round-the-clock line operates on the basis of the Federal Coordination Center for Ensuring the Development of Psychological and Pedagogical Assistance in the Education System of the Russian Federation at Moscow State University of Psychology and Education.
"Two weeks ago, we launched the psychological assistance line so that every child, parent, and educator knows: there is no need to remain alone with a problem. Qualified counselling psychologists receive about 70 inquiries per day. We see that the opportunity to receive timely psychological support is in demand. Behind each inquiry is a person with their own experiences, anxieties, and questions. This could be either a child or an adult. It is important that at such a moment a specialist is nearby who can listen, support, and help find a way out of a difficult situation", noted Russian Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov.
Academic, family, and interpersonal difficulties together account for almost 69% of all substantive inquiries. Specialists are asked how to resolve conflicts in the family or with peers, including outside the educational organization. Callers report worries about academic performance or exams. In third place by number are inquiries related to intrapersonal conflicts. Among them, health issues predominate.
Most inquiries come from students and their parents. It should be noted that when calling the psychological assistance line, the principle of confidentiality is observed; no return calls are made from the line to the caller.
"The line has already received the first signals about situations requiring not only psychological counselling but also further organization of assistance. These cases were taken into work; children and parents received the necessary support in difficult circumstances, including those related to problematic situations in relationships between participants in educational relations at school. It is particularly indicative that more than 40% of substantive inquiries concern academic issues. This confirms the importance of a separate, clear, and accessible channel where one can turn when a problem has just arisen and can still be resolved before it escalates", commented Anna Ermolaeva, Deputy Head of the Federal Coordination Center for Ensuring the Development of Psychological and Pedagogical Assistance in the Education System of the Russian Federation at MSUPE.