The early stages of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns were hard for many. Isolation, stress, and a variety of emotional challenges have impacted people’s mental health. But, a year later, nothing has changed. The problems have only exacerbated, say city therapists, who have been working overtime to accommodate requests coming to them.

Mumbai-based Tanvi Sardesai, a licensed clinical psychologist, says that she attends to at least 20 patients daily. While the number may seem insignificant, every patient warrants undivided attention of 45 minutes to an hour each, which means she is clocking in close to 18 hours of therapy every day. “This pandemic has changed the way people live. We are not used to spending so much time indoors, so we see a large number of people suffering from stress, existential crisis, and self-doubt,” she says.