The country's mental health is "at crisis point" and "there's not a lot being done" to help.

That is according to psychotherapist Mary McHugh who is the CEO of counsellingonline.ie.

Tomorrow marks World Mental Health Day and this year's theme is 'make mental health for all a global priority'.

However, Dr McHugh says Ireland is years behind the rest of Europe when it comes to investment in mental health services.

Lockdowns

She told Newstalk that many are feeling the after-effects of months of lockdowns but the supports aren't available.

"It's at crisis point because I suppose we've been asked for the last few years to stay in and now everybody is coming out."

"There is a high level of anxiety and we're really seeing that there's not a lot being done about that", she said.

"There was huge resources pumped in during the pandemic and here we are now. It's now we actually need the resources."

A report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) early this year showed that there has been a substantial increase in depressive and anxiety disorders as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It found that depression and anxiety went up by more than 25% in the first year of the pandemic alone - adding to the nearly one billion people already living with a mental disorder.

Increased anxiety

Dr McHugh warns of people unable to afford counselling and psychotherapy falling through the cracks.

Going back out into the world has heightened stress and anxiety for people and she believes a pandemic-like response is needed.

"We're seeing it every day", she said.

"We started off really in shock and then there has been being put into houses with families, there's relationship issues, there's addiction."

"The problem is people aren't able to afford it and it's a major issue at the moment."

Main image shows  woman in counselling. Picture by: Aleksandr Davydov/Alamy