In response to the growing mental health crisis in Italy, coalition partner Forza Italia, the Socialists, and the Order of Psychologists are advocating for increased funding for a program that provides state coverage for psychotherapy sessions to Italian residents with a certain income. The existing system has been deemed ineffective amid rising cases of self-harm and suicide, especially among the youth.
Forza Italia, echoing calls from the opposition Democratic Party, presented an amendment before the Senate Budget Committee, urging an increase in funding for the program. They propose increasing the fund from €5 million to €15 million for 2023 and from €8 million to €40 million for 2024.
Senator Licia Ronzulli (Forza Italia/EPP), the first signatory of the amendment, emphasized the importance of protecting the mental health of Italians, which is as crucial as physical health. Beneficiaries of the program can claim up to €50 per session and receive up to €1,500 annually. To qualify, residents must have an equivalent economic situation indicator (Isee) of less than €50,000.
However, technical issues have hindered beneficiaries from accessing the support this year. Out of 400,000 applicants in 2022, only 40,000 were able to benefit from the state contribution, with more than 60% being under the age of 35.
The Order of Psychologists has long called for an increase in the fund, and the Democratic Party proposed an amendment seeking €50 million annually from 2023, along with additional measures to support mental health, particularly among young people.
Italy is witnessing a concerning increase in self-harm and suicidal tendencies among 13-17-year-olds, with a 27% rise compared to pre-COVID levels, according to a recent study by the Italian Society of Childhood and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry. Mental health is also a concern for the working population, as a study in the Lombardy region revealed that 37.6% of respondents reported that their employers did not promote mental health, and 60% felt that stress had a negative impact on their performance.
