Feb 8 • 17:20 UTC 🇪🇪 Estonia ERR

The Lack of Psychiatrists Forces People to Seek Help from Apps

Due to a shortage of psychiatrists in Estonia, many citizens are turning to mental health apps for initial support.

The article highlights the increasing difficulty for many Estonians to access mental health assistance, primarily due to a severe shortage of available psychiatric appointments. Patients are finding it challenging to secure free consultations with qualified psychiatrists, which has led to the need for alternative support systems. As a result, many are now exploring mental health applications as a means for initial counseling and guidance.

Despite the rise in utilization of these mental health apps, the article underscores that such tools are not substitutes for traditional psychological therapy. While they may offer preliminary assistance or coping strategies, they lack the professional insight that a trained psychologist can provide. This situation raises concerns about the quality of mental health support available and what that means for the overall mental well-being of the population.

The piece concludes by emphasizing the need for better access to qualified mental health services in Estonia. It advocates for increased funding and recruitment of psychiatrists to meet the growing demand for mental health care, and suggests that without these changes, reliance on apps may become a desperate measure for individuals seeking help in the face of professional scarcity.

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