This Corona virus crisis, while causing many hardships, is also providing new opportunities.

The Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs decided to finance and launch, in June 2020, a 24/7 Pastoral Care telephone line. Because the Academy has trained pastoral care givers for approximately 30 years, the Ministry asked us to initiate and run this operation. Siimon Haamer became the coordinator of this helpline. The Pastoral Care telephone line started operating on June 17, 2020. The information was very well presented through many Estonian media channels. We began receiving calls immediately after the public announcement and the line was actively in use all the time.

Initially, financing was offered through December 31, 2020 but we are happy that financing was extended until spring of 2022. Since April of 2022 Ministry of Social Affairs continued to operate this helpline itself and hired our alumnus. We are happy this work is continuing. We had again an opportunity to build up something new and ensure its continuity.

The helpline was very actively used and exceeded expectations of the Ministry of Social Affairs. We received 21 500 calls during 21 months. 40% of the calls were about anxiety and loneliness. 10% were calls from suicidal people. We were their last option. Many of them become regular callers.

We were able to offer jobs for 14 pastoral care givers. This was certainly building up more interest in our study program and pastoral care specialty.