Covid stifled US mental health therapy. Online forums provided a safe haven
People have increasingly turned to internet communities for support as the pandemic forced them to stay indoors
Jessica Smith, who is 44, unemployed and lives on the US East coast, often visits the Mental Health Forum website, a peer support forum for people who face mental health issues. It has multiple areas where people can go to discuss their mental illnesses, share recovery stories and vent about the problems they are struggling with.
Smith – whose name has been changed to protect her identity – likes the sense of community it provides, especially since the long months of the coronavirus pandemic have disrupted her ability to meet people in person and have led to often long periods of isolation .
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