00:00Constant pressure, verbal aggressions and sometimes even attacks.
00:03That's what Meijas in Germany face, and she helps them cope.
00:19Surveys show widespread strain among local politicians in Germany.
00:23More than 80% are reporting psychological burdens such as depressive mood or sleep disorders.
00:29One major reason, an increase in the number of verbal and physical attacks.
00:33When I make a letter that says,
00:35I'm going to hang you tomorrow or I already know in which kindergarten your children are going to go,
00:39you can't say to those or those who read it that you don't want to say,
00:43then you just throw it away and then you're done.
00:45Because we don't work like that.
00:47These are the extremes.
00:48Mercedes says Meijas are generally under a lot of pressure,
00:52torn between increasingly limited budgets and the community's expectations.
00:56One Meijas who speaks openly about the potential side effects
00:59for people working in politics is Philipp Lotter.
01:02Ich hatte schon Schlafstörungen, dann hatte ich auch schon Drehschwindel,
01:05wo viele Dinge einfach gebrannt haben.
01:08Philipp Lotter has managed to cope with the stress on his own,
01:11but wants people to be aware that Meijas especially should get help if needed.
01:15It's zwar ein schönes Amt, auch ein erfüllendes Amt,
01:17aber wenn man halt merkt, dass es einem seelisch momentan nicht gut geht,
01:20dann sollte man auch Therapie aufsuchen und sollte es auch nicht als Schwäche auslegen.
01:27Mercedes Mende has been focusing on supporting Meijas for 10 years.
01:31For her, the emotional well-being of people holding political power is crucial.
01:35Mir ist einfach wichtig, dass es Bürgermeister gibt,
01:37weil wenn es keine Bürgermeister mehr gibt, dann bricht die Basis der Demokratie weg.
01:45Vielen Dank.
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