The Coronavirus pandemic has not only affected people physically – in the most devastating of ways – but mentally, too. There is more pressure than ever on our mental health services, contributing to an impending mental health crisis. While some people are fortunate enough to be able to seek private, high-cost therapy, for many it’s just not a possibility. And so they’re left to struggle alone. If this includes you, know that you don’t have to be alone.
There is help out there right now – and it’s based online. And, unlike popular therapy apps, it doesn’t have to break the bank.
Online counselling is a vital resource right now – and it’s something you should consider if you are struggling mentally, having relationship difficulties, feeling lonely or just need to talk. Here’s why.
It’s a way to seek help for your mental health without risk of exposure to Covid-19
Catching Covid-19 is a constant risk at the moment, and unfortunately this risk doesn’t disappear on your way to an in-person counselling session. Consequently, online counselling is vital during the pandemic because it enables you to seek help for your mental health without risking your physical health. It prevents the need to leave the house and means you get the help you need from the comfort and safety of your own home (see also: bed).
It’s a convenient way to seek help when finances are tight
The pandemic has significantly affected our finances. In England, the furlough scheme means people only take home 80% of their usual salary and many people are out of work. The unemployment rate peaked at an unprecedented level, not seen since data collection started in 1948, in April 2020 (14.7%). And so, for many, therapy might seem the furthest thing from the mind.
But online counselling services, such as Peer Collective, can help.
Peer Collective, is an online counselling service that is much cheaper than the popular therapy apps you may have heard of. Each session costs $14-$28, or £10-£22 – a much better option than many therapy apps that may charge an absolute minimum of £30+ a session.
One of the best things about the service is that you are connected to a counsellor solely based on your needs, which you express in a questionnaire upon sign-up – so it’s personal to you.
The pandemic also means being unable to participate in as many social activities due to the need for social distancing – the money usually spent on meals out or cinema trips with friends could finance your sessions, likely with money left over.
It gives you more time to focus on yourself due to less social activities
As well as benefiting our finances, the lack of social activities means we have more time. This time can be used in a variety of different ways, but taking good care of ourselves should definitely be at the top of our priority lists. Counselling sessions are a fantastic way of doing so. A bonus? These sessions are highly likely to benefit us when life starts to return to normal. —
Talking to someone helps combat loneliness during the pandemic
The number of people experiencing loneliness during the pandemic is soaring – with 4.2 million adults now often feeling lonely, which is 1.6 million more than before the pandemic, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Therefore, Online counselling can be extremely beneficial because it provides us with someone to talk to, helping to combat loneliness and promoting positive mental health.
You can seek help from the comfort of your own home
Online counselling brings you the help you need right to the comfort of your own home. Not only is this safer due to the presence of the virus, but also: Being able to talk to someone while wrapped up in a blanket like a burrito seems like a much preferable option to having to leave the house to sit in an office.
Talking online may also be a little easier for some people, who find face-to-face conversations around mental health too daunting. It could be a great way to combat the barriers around seeking help when you have social anxiety.
Finally, it’s just way more accessible right now
For many, waiting lists for help with your mental health are long and tiring. Online services like Peer Collective are there for immediate start. It also saves time and money as you don’t need to travel to the sessions and, with the majority of people currently working from home at the moment, it’s easier to work it around your job.
Overall, online counselling is vital at any time, but especially during the pandemic due to the negative impacts of social isolation on our mental health. It is also convenient at the moment due to most of us predominantly being at home with more time to spare.
Online counselling services such as Peer Collective aren’t just cost-effective, but personal and suited for your needs, too. Being connected to a licensed, qualified counsellor (the top 3% of all applicants) based on the issues you are experiencing is a quick, easy and professional way to seek help.
But most importantly, being able to talk to someone professional who completely understands – and therefore can help with what you’re going through – is a pretty unique quality in forms of support and treatment.