- 76% of the demands are for in-person sessions
- 5% demand increase for therapy for fighting gambling addictions
- Most demands are from Bucharest, Cluj, Iași, Constanța, Brașov, Ilfov, and Timiș
Bucharest, November 27, 2025 — As Romania navigates a challenging social and economic period, the number of people who sought after mental health support rose. According to new data from HomeRun, one of the leading online service platforms in Romania, demand for psychological services grew throughout 2025. A particularly notable development is the increase in requests for assistance related to gambling addiction, which rose by 17.5% year over year.
Young adults initiate the most quests for therapy
Users aged 18–24 account for 61% of all therapy-related requests submitted on the platform, while the 25–34 age group represents an additional 25%. Emotional distress remains the primary reason people reach out, with more than a third selecting “I need to talk / I need help” when submitting a request. Concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, couples difficulties, and self-esteem issues also contribute to a large share of the total demand for mental-health services.
Within this broader context, the increasing demand for therapy related to gambling addiction stands out, notably increasing by 17.5% year over year. In 2024, only 17% of those seeking support for gambling-related problems were aged 18–24. In 2025, this proportion has nearly doubled to 31%, indicating a significant shift in the vulnerability of younger age groups.
76% of the demands are for in-person therapy sessions
The users were interested in both in-person and online therapy, with traditional face-to-face sessions remaining the preferred option for most users. In-person support accounted for 76% of all psychological service requests, a sign that many people still value direct human interaction when dealing with emotional or mental-health challenges. Demand is especially concentrated around Romania’s major cities. Bucharest generates the largest volume of requests, representing 44% of the national total. It is followed by Cluj, Iași, Constanța, Brașov, Ilfov, and Timiș, which together account for most of the remaining demand. This distribution highlights the pressure of fast-paced urban life, as well as the higher availability and visibility of specialists in metropolitan areas.
HomeRun provides users with a safe and intuitive platform for finding reviewed and verified mental-health professionals. Individuals can speak with psychologists and therapists directly through the in-app chat before making a decision, which allows them to ask questions comfortably and assess compatibility. There is no cost for using the platform; consumers pay only for the session provided by the specialist they choose. This model supports transparency and comfort for users who may feel uncertain when seeking help for the first time.
