At the end of Mental Health Week, initiated by the Action Alliance for Mental Health under the motto "Talking lifts your spirits", a new study underlines that almost half of Germans talk to make themselves feel better. Partner of the Action Alliance, REDEZEIT FÜR DICH #virtualsupporttalks presents the results of a representative study that the startup conducted together with the Hamburg-based opinion research company Appinio.

The survey is based on a representative study of 1,000 Germans, by age and gender, which looked at the use of mental health services nationwide. If you take a closer look at the results in detail, one thing becomes very clear: almost half of the Germans talk when they are stressed and talking within the framework of a mental health service not only lifts the mood, but also gives the users strength and better concentration. An explanatory approach:

Talking out loud about your worries and stresses brings thought carousels to a halt, among other things. When talking, other regions of the brain are automatically switched on and communicate with each other, the view of the burden is widened. Talking has been practised for centuries in many cultures across all ages. Today, its effectiveness has been scientifically proven through extensive research. In the Corona years, society has learned that digital encounters also fire the mirror neurons and trigger a beneficial interaction. In this respect, a conversation without pressure can be the first step out of emotional isolation and positively change the basic mood of those affected.

Results according to which talking is used as an important offer of help:

• The majority of respondents say they talk about mental stress at least occasionally (42 per cent). 

• 75 per cent of the respondents are convinced that open communication about mental stress with others helps to reduce it.

This is what therapy currently looks like in the digital age:

• Currently, 26.1 percent of the respondents already make use of help offers (e.g. therapy, counselling, etc.) for mental stress.

• The most frequently used form of help is classical therapy (66.3 percent), followed by discussions with a doctor (47.1 percent) and friends and family (46.4 percent).

• Every second respondent (54.3 percent) can imagine using mental health services that are offered exclusively on the internet. Age split: 49 percent of 35 to 44 year-olds would be more likely to make use of the offer, compared to only 32 percent of 45 to 55 year-olds.

• 51.7 percent hope that therapy will make them think less about their problems.

Insight into the study result: https://research.appinio.com/#/de/survey/public/4y2JkFTdG