Between pandemic fatigue and second surge, demand for therapy skyrockets

WORCESTER, Mass. — Between pandemic fatigue and another potential COVID-19 surge on the horizon, many are facing extreme burnout heading into the holiday season. The need for therapy has also grown exponentially as mental health concerns are expected to get worse into the winter months.

“People are acknowledging that this is also a mental health crisis, it’s not only a health crisis. And there isn’t, and nor should there be, a stigma attached to getting mental health services,” said Nancy Seglin, a mental health counselor at Enlightened Interventions, LLC.

According to Seglin, both their offices in Worcester and on Cape Cod have been inundated with people calling and asking for help. On Sunday, she said about 100 people remain on the waiting list for a therapist.

“We’re jammed, I mean we’ve got a backlog of people who want therapy,” she explained. “At Enlightened we are trying to service everybody; we care so much about our clients. And it’s hard, people are doing double duty trying to fit people in.”

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Seglin added that people of all ages have been seeking therapy, with issues ranging from pandemic fatigue to election stress.

“I think people are confused, honestly, and thinking ‘when will this be over?’ It’s very hard to realize that this may not be over until next spring,” she said.

The surge in need for therapy comes after 9 months of social distancing, isolation, job loss and more. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the commonwealth, Seglin said people shouldn’t wait to find someone to talk to.

“I think it’s smart to reach out now because it might be two months, three months before you connect with somebody. So the sooner you reach out, the better,” she said.

The holidays pose another hurdle as families are asked not to get together in person this year.

Seglin said she recommends people stay in touch with friends over the phone, stay informed but limit intense news consumption, stay outside as much as possible and stay busy.

“I think it’s going to be harder than we all think it’s going to be,” Seglin said.

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