When Politics Becomes A Mental Health Crisis: Therapists See Surge In 'Trump Era' Patients

The Troubling Rise of 'Political Depression'

As the tumultuous Trump era has unfolded, an unexpected side effect has emerged - a surge in patients seeking therapy to cope with the emotional toll of the country's deepening political divisions. Therapists across the United States are reporting a significant increase in clients struggling with what has been dubbed 'political depression' - a condition characterized by feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, and even terror in response to the constant barrage of partisan conflict and disturbing news.

For many Americans, the daily drumbeat of political scandals, heated rhetoric, and seemingly unending crises has taken a serious mental health toll. Rebecca McFaul, a music professor in Utah, is one such example. Waking up to a steady stream of distressing news, she found herself gripped by a 'certain kind of terror and horror' at the state of the country. Despite her best efforts to focus on her work and students, the compounding weight of the political turmoil proved too much to bear.