Paul Goble
Staunton, July 20 – Some Russians are protesting Putin’s war in Ukraine, others are emigrating, but many are suffering psychological discomfort in silence, with ever more of them purchasing anti-depressant drugs and turning to professionals for help or thinking about suicide, according to clinical psychologist Andrey Pilipenko.
Indeed, he says, the situation has become so dire since February that Russia is now “threatened by an epidemic of psychological and neurotic disorders,” especially since the country lacks the necessary number of specialists to provide help to those suffering from these problems (https://www.ng.ru/kartblansh/2022-07-21/3_8493_kb.html).
The number of Russians turning to psychologists and psychiatrists in the first months of this year was almost 25 percent higher than a year ago when their country was still suffering from the effects of the pandemic and the number seeking such assistance was already higher than it had been earlier, Pilipenko says.
In addition, since the start of 2022, Russians have purchased 50 percent more medications for psychological problems than they did a year earlier, although some of that increase may reflect concerns that such drugs will soon cost more or be entirely unavailable because of sanctions, he concedes.
Experts in this field say that there is a great risk of suicidal behavior, noting that “the majority of appeals” to psychological service hotlines in Russia now involve “suicidal thoughts and intentions.” Many more people, Pilipenko says, are turning to alcohol and drugs because of such feelings.
The situation is certain to get worse because Russia does not have enough qualified specialists to treat such people. The World Health Organization notes that Russia has only four or five psychologists per 100,000 population while in the Netherlands that figure is 123 and in the United States, 30.
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