Successive lockdowns, working remotely and employment insecurity, the coronavirus pandemic has sparked a global mental health crisis.
A survey of thousands of therapists by the European Association for Psychotherapy found that since lockdown people are presenting more feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression as well as relationship difficulties.
More concerning is an increase in suicidal ideation, whereby people think about ending their lives to escape lockdown.
The effects of the pandemic have caused an increasing demand for psychotherapists.
“Although Psychotherapists are not frontline staff working in the hospitals fighting and battling with Covid each day, they have been saving lives each day in a less visible way through helping people and giving psychotherapy to those who are feeling depressed and suicidal,” said Patricia Hunt, president of the European Association for Psychotherapy.