It’s been more than a month that we’ve been stuck at home amid this nationwide lockdown. And for most, it has been quite a stressful and anxious time. Well, that is what data from Google Trends seems to suggest too!
With an overdependence on the Internet due to the extra time on our hands, Google searches for ‘therapy’ and ‘recipes’ have surged in India amid the lockdown.
Indians Are Searching For ‘Stress’ And ‘Therapy’ On Google
According to a LiveMint report, data from Google Trends suggests that stress levels in India have skyrocketed during the lockdown. So much so, that search levels for stress in India exceeded those of several other countries which were also under lockdown over the past few weeks.
Data from several other sources also suggest a rise in anxiety and mental health problems during the lockdown. According to a recent survey conducted by the Indian Psychiatric Society, there has been a 20% rise in cases related to mental illnesses because of insecurities relating to work, health, finances, etc.
Looking for a solution to this stress, searches for therapy also have risen in the country. Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mizoram, and Puducherry have seen a relatively high search for therapy while searches have been lower in the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
On the brighter side, searches for suicides have been relatively low. A one-time spike was seen in the term ‘suicide’ on March 29 after Germany’s finance minister, Thomas Schaefer, committed suicide. However, post that, searches for suicides have been low.
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Indians Are Also Looking Up Recipes On Google
Looks like most Indians have turned to cooking amid this lockdown because what better therapy than food, right? Data shows that the search for recipes is rising faster in India than in many other countries. States where searches for recipes outdid those for workouts or online classes include Goa, Daman & Diu, and Karnataka.
Apart from this, job searches have also intensified in India. Many people have either lost their jobs or are uncertain of their current ones. With growing economic precarity, searches for jobs have been relatively high in the country as compared to other countries.
Overall, our dependence on the net has only intensified during this unprecedented lockdown! But fellow Indians, keep cooking because food is the best therapy out there!
Also Read: From Gold To Refrigerators, This Kerala Village Is Giving Prizes For Staying Indoors Amid Lockdown