Paradox defines the current mental health scene in Russia. Each year the demand for psychologists grows as more people seek awareness and therapy. Society pushes for better mental health, yet the rate of depression keeps rising. The Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported that about 39 percent of Russians show signs of depressive vulnerability.
As the need for psychotherapy grows, insecurity also rises. Over the past decade the share of people with suspicious mental profiles increased from 29 percent to 38 percent. At the same time a new pattern emerges: people discuss insecurity during what some call “brain walks”, and higher incomes influence this talk. Among those earning up to 50 thousand rubles, only about 32 percent discuss insecurity with a psychologist, while among those earning more than 80 thousand rubles the share rises to about 47 percent.
Then a wave of online chatter linked this topic to an experiment conducted in Kenya. Five years ago MIT researchers divided depressed participants into groups: some received psychotherapy, others were given financial support of 500 dollars. The initial changes were modest, but the group that received money showed more vitality over time. The tale spread online and sparked lively discussion about the value of money relative to therapy. Citation: MIT study
Yet this topic is not a joke. Psychology earns deep respect and at times fear. The field has long stood in high esteem alongside thinkers such as Frankl, Fromm, Freud, Jung, Yalom, Berdyaev, Shestov, Kierkegaard, Camus, and Schopenhauer. Psychology concerns how people control their inner life amid civilization. In the past, priests and friends often took on counsel, but modern psychology offers trained therapists who listen, ask questions, and help a person see themselves clearly. Paying a qualified specialist is a serious step in self work, not a luxury.
With that reality comes the challenge of choosing a good expert and avoiding debt or quacks. How to tell if the issue is a spiritual or mental problem or a thyroid issue? How to tell if the problem is clinical depression or a fashion statement or a momentary display? How to avoid therapy that pushes too deep into past trauma? And money matters as well. People frequently confuse one problem with another and end up spending funds unwisely.
One relative has been in therapy for five years and still contends with a toxic mother living in the same house. The idea of renting a separate apartment often seems simpler, yet the family maintains a certain living arrangement. In therapy a large portion of monthly earnings goes to sessions and to the therapist. It can mean half of the rent and half of a salary, leaving less for other goals while the core issue remains unresolved.
Another acquaintance faced a rough marriage with a cycle of debt, loans, addiction, and periodic unemployment by the partner. The belief is that the spouse exerts powerful influence, while a divorce lawyer seems practical. The lawyer may win, but a more attentive therapist can offer real support during a difficult time.
A third pattern sees therapy marketed as cheerful coaching with stand up elements. Marathons, master classes, paid streams are offered. The approach can be entertaining, yet the person still attends sessions. The main demand is financial and the fear of poverty. More than one hundred thousand rubles have been spent in this way, and the sums keep mounting.
Another person attends therapy at intervals and later calculates the costs in the head: about five thousand rubles per hour, plus months of visits and travel to the clinician. A mortgage and children add to the pressure, and debt can feel heavy. In such cases some people choose practical work over therapy, a shift that seems sensible in the moment.
When a deep loss or the collapse of the personal world occurs, genuine help matters. Money may be found for support, but not always at premium clinics. People may seek a low cost doctor or community service. A visit to a psychologist with a practical approach and simple, clear methods can provide relief and restore perspective, helping the person see reality with more balance and make better decisions.
Overall psychotherapy is serious and meaningful when real problems exist. It can also be light and social when concerns are minor, but it is wise to direct resources in a thoughtful way. If issues are trivial or speculative, it may be better to devote energy to other priorities.