Autumn deepens mental health strain in Europe as experts urge exercise and coping strategies

As autumn deepens, seasonal shifts and external pressures are amplifying mental health struggles across Europe, with experts and individuals alike reporting heightened anxiety, fatigue, and emotional strain.
In Romania, nearly a quarter of the population has experienced depression or anxiety, according to recent statistics, with the onset of autumn exacerbating these challenges. Doctors note that temperature fluctuations, reduced daylight, and erratic weather disrupt sleep and mood, while the added stress of regional conflict and economic instability compounds the strain. “It’s an increasingly anxious season,” one woman told Digi24, citing the cumulative impact of war at the border, rising costs, and political unrest. Psychologist Mihaela Avrămescu emphasized that even moderate, consistent exercise can improve sleep, focus, and emotional balance, while psychiatrist Maria Cristache warned that current conditions are “so psychogenic, so traumatic” that many struggle with insomnia and a diminished capacity for daily joy .
Cardiologist Hasso Uuetoa underscored the role of regular aerobic activity—such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming—in bolstering cardiovascular and mental resilience, recommending at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly. “The best workout is the one you do regularly, safely, and with sufficient intensity,” Uuetoa said, noting that consistency matters more than intensity for long-term benefits .
Meanwhile, in Slovenia, young adults facing serious illness described the initial shock of diagnosis as overwhelming, with one 18-year-old, Tomi Jakša, recalling the difficulty of deciding between amputation or reconstructive surgery after a bone cancer diagnosis. Psychologist Katarina Lia Kompan Erzar observed that confronting such crises requires both emotional processing and practical structure to regain a sense of control .
Follow us for live European news
- 2
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
12 further sources not geolocated










