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Millions of helpline calls reveal how COVID affected mental health

Data from almost 20 countries suggest that many callers were anxious and lonely rather than experiencing abuse or suicidal impulses.
  1. Heidi Ledford
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A sweeping study of 8 million calls to helplines in 19 countries and regions found that call volumes jumped during the first wave of coronavirus infections. Loneliness and concerns about the pandemic drove most of the callers, rather than imminent threats such as suicidal thoughts or abuse.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-03454-x

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental-health crisis, please reach out. You can find assistance through a helpline: https://findahelpline.com/

References

  1. Brülhart, M., Klotzbücher, V., Lalive, R. & Reich, S. K. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04099-6 (2021).

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