Mental

In the past two years I have read many stories in the news about mental health issues or eating disorders being caused or aggravated by the pandemic. While I could understand and empathise, it seemed a pretty abstract issue to be honest, much like other news headlines. In the meantime, I have found out that it is far from it and that friends, children's friends and actually also members of my own (extended) family have been affected and are, or have been, in therapy and/or are taking anti-depressants. It almost feels like another mini pandemic of sorts. The reason why I know about these things is that (thankfully) mental health issues seem to be much less of a taboo (probably thanks to social media, at least in part) and being in therapy is not something we associate exclusively with highly-strung Americans from Woody Allen films any more. Even ten years ago or so, this would have been more "hush hush" and people would have gone to great lengths to hide their issues from friends and family, thus making it equally difficult for others to speak up and tell them about their own problems, which might give a bit of reassurance.