Psychologists and communities abroad

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• Anxiety, guilt and burnout after leaving are common. Rights groups advise turning to projects for people who have left: there you don't need to explain the context.
• Free psychologists: The Ark (form on the website) and Reforum Help (online and in Berlin, Vilnius, Warsaw, Paris, Tbilisi).
• Communities: Reforum Space hubs (Berlin, Vilnius, Tallinn, Tbilisi, Budva) and The Ark's mutual-aid chats by city and profession. Reforum is designated 'undesirable' in Russia. If you plan to travel to Russia, going to its hubs and events may be treated as taking part in an 'undesirable' organisation, so check with a lawyer. The Ark was set up with support from the Anti-War Committee, which is designated 'terrorist' in Russia. In city chats, don't give your full name, address or travel plans: provocateurs turn up in chats.
• For LGBTQ+ people there is Sphere, and in Germany Quarteera. Note that the 'LGBT movement' is designated 'extremist' in Russia, so contact Sphere from a device that is not checked. In France, Russie-Libertés brings anti-war Russians together.
• Check that a chat or bot is official: the link should be on the organisation's website.

Designations of organisations in this guide: Sphere (foreign agent, "LGBT movement" designated extremist); Reforum Help (undesirable); Anti-War Committee 'Consuls' (terrorist). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.

current as of September 25. More: The Ark: get help (foreign agent); Reforum Help (undesirable); Reforum Space (undesirable)