The Support and Assistance for Free Expression (SAFE) project is now accepting applications for its Psychological Support Fund, open to journalists and media workers in independent media across the Eastern Partnership (EaP).
Continuous exposure to high-stress and repressive environments takes a profound personal toll on journalists, eroding their psychological endurance and their ability to keep reporting. Through the SAFE Psychological Support Fund, we offer grants of up to €500 to foster resilience and recovery for journalists and media workers in the region. Eligible EaP countries are listed below.
This support mechanism is designed to allow media workers to access mental healthcare on their own terms, with freedom to choose their preferred care providers.
SAFE is a project of the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) under the Hannah Arendt Initiative, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. The project offers emergency grants for independent media and journalists, covers short-term residencies, equipment support, insurance for journalists on the front lines, provides special support for women journalists and other types of assistance.
Who can apply
This call is open to individual journalists and media professionals covering five Eastern Partnership countries: Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
To qualify, applicants must:
- Work for an editorially independent media outlet covering at least one of the five target countries listed above.
- Require psychological support directly linked to their professional duties or working conditions.
- Require psychological care that can be accessed within the current programme period.
What is covered
The grant provides up to €500 per recipient to cover professional mental health services, including:
- Individual psychotherapy and clinical counseling
- Specialised trauma therapy
- Psychological consultations and psychiatric evaluations
- Facilitated group support for journalists experiencing work-related stress
Applicants are expected to identify their own, preferred qualified care provider. Treatment may be in-person or remote.
Application and disbursement timeline
All approved grants are disbursed within the current programme period, until 31 December 2026. Supported services must be completed before this date.
Application process and security
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and will remain open until 15 November 2026. We aim to process every request as promptly as possible, though response times may vary depending on the volume of applications we receive.
As part of our review process, we may conduct background verification where necessary. All information shared with us is treated with strict confidentiality and stored in line with data protection standards.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted in English.
To apply, please fill out the secure application form here.
