Italian
ITALY. The Italian government is significantly investing in mental health, with the aim of making psychological assistance more accessible. At the conference “The future of Psychology. Profession, social security, welfare,” promoted by ENPAP, the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policies, Maria Teresa Bellucci, outlined the government’s strategy for prevention and psychological support.
Rome. Spending on mental health in Italy stands at around 3.5% of the National Health Fund, but the need for assistance in this area remains high. A MORe (Mental Health Optimization of Resources) report highlighted the need to increase investments to meet the growing demand for psychological support.
Deputy Minister Bellucci emphasized the government’s commitment to making the “psychologist bonus” a permanent measure, increasing the available resources and the coverage cap for expenses for each citizen to 1,500 euros. “As a psychologist and psychotherapist, I am happy that mental health is no longer a taboo,” Bellucci said. “In recent years, there has been much talk about it, and this is essential for a broad awareness campaign.”
In addition to the psychologist bonus, the government has allocated significant resources to universities, aiming to provide support to students during their academic journey. Furthermore, 20 million euros have been allocated to fund research projects on the emotional fragility of young people.
“Our commitment is to offer everyone the opportunity to take care of their health in its entirety, both physical and mental,” Bellucci added. “But even more importantly, it is essential to promote a new culture that eliminates those unjust prejudices still too widespread.”
The Government has also allocated 300 million euros to strengthen social services and increase the presence of psychologists in the Local Social Areas (ATS). These funds will allow the hiring of psychologists, educational psychologists, professional educators, and administrative staff to ensure more effective responses to the needs of communities.
Felice Damiano Torricelli, President of ENPAP, highlighted the organization’s efforts to respond to the social transformations of recent years. “ENPAP and the psychological profession have made great efforts to respond to the social transformations of recent years,” Torricelli stated. “They have updated, strengthened connections with the world of research, and carefully considered the social and economic impact they generate.”
Torricelli added that ENPAP must continue to support psychologists, counteracting gender pay gaps, and promoting innovation and professional development. “The well-being of members, the protection of their families, and the professional service provided to the community are and must remain the pillars on which to base every strategic choice of ENPAP,” he concluded.
