Argentina has more mental health professionals per person than most other countries in the world. Many Argentines depend on therapists in their daily lives. Now, they are finding new ways to bring their therapists into their homes, through phone calls and meeting apps. The South American nation has been under a government ordered quarantine since the middle of March. The order is set to last until at least April 26. Claudia Borensztejn is president of the Argentine Psychoanalytic Association, or APA. She told Reuters, “We are receiving many calls, the situation opens many new doors.” Borensztejn said that discussions between therapists and their patients are now almost all about the coronavirus outbreak. She said many patients report having panic attacks, anxiety about being stuck inside, trouble sleeping, and extreme worry about their economic situation. A culture of therapy is well established in Argentina. Many people make weekly trips to their mental health provider, said Borensztejn. Now those meetings are happening in different ways.
