There is a shortage of psychotherapists in Russia, because most specialists work in the private sector, Svitlana Sport, director general of the RNPC of Psychiatry and Narcology, said at a press conference on Monday, Interfax reports.

“If you look at the statistics, we do not have enough psychotherapists. There are about 1,250 of them. This indicator constantly has a negative trend. It does not mean that they are not in the country, they are, but they go to the private sector or they are in private practices or private clinics,” she said.

According to official public sector statistics, about 3.9 million people in Russia have sought help from public services with mental health problems.

Of these, approximately 1.4 million are under surveillance. The rest are people who have sought psychiatric help at least once in their lives.

Shport also stated that one of the tasks of the center headed by him is the development of “psychotherapeutic direction and medical psychologists” for the organization of quality psychiatric care.

“Unfortunately, our service accepts patients already in advanced cases. This situation needs to change,” she said.

His comment was made in connection with the fact that October 10 is the International Day of Mental Health.