Mental health in Italy: a silent emergency. Data, disorders, and who to contact.

Mental health in Italy is a crisis, confirmed by the data: emergency room visits are on the rise, 1 in 5 workers is at risk of burnout, and adolescents are increasingly vulnerable. From the WHO to new initiatives like school psychologists, here is the complete map of psychological well-being today.

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mental health Italy

Italy is facing a silent health emergency, but one confirmed by alarming numbers. mental health and the psychological well-being of Italians is clearly worsening, with a significant increase in visits to emergency rooms for mental disorders, which have seen a increase of almost 70% in a decade.

In particular, there is a worrying growth in cases of trough and, among the very young, of acts of self-harm e suicide attempts.

The picture does not improve if we shift our gaze to the world of work: according to recent studies, one in five Italian workers is at risk of burnout, a condition of psychophysical exhaustion linked to chronic work-related stress.

Mental health is therefore no longer a niche problem, but a central issue for public health and society.

What is mental health?

Before analyzing the data, it's essential to understand what mental health means. People often make the mistake of thinking of it as simply the "absence of disease." In reality,World Health Organization (WHO) defines it in a much broader and more positive way.

According to WHO, mental health is: “a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

It is therefore not just a question of not having a disorder, but of possessing the psychological resources to live a fulfilling life and actively participate in society.

But how and why do Italians find themselves in this downward spiral? Let's look at it in detail.

The most common mental disorders in Italy

When this balance described by the WHO is missing, it can lead to a disorder. According to the data of theNational Institute of Health (ISS), the most common mental disorders among the Italian population are:

  1. Anxiety disorders: They are the most widespread category and include generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks and phobias.
  2. Major depression e dysthymiaIt is the second most common disease and one of the main causes of disability globally.
  3. Stress disorders: Including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and acute reactions to stress..
  4. Work-related disorders: As the aforementioned burnout, which the WHO has officially recognized as an “occupational phenomenon” (not a disease, but a condition requiring medical attention).

Who suffers the most?

Although psychological distress is transversal, recent data highlight two areas of particular vulnerability: teens and workers.

A boom in discomfort among adolescents

The mental health situation among young people is the most worrying. As evidenced by numerous data, the pandemic has accelerated an already latent problem.

It is estimated that approximately 20% of Italian adolescents show symptoms of a neuropsychiatric disorder.

Among the most frequent and most worrying disorders are theself harm and suicide: Data from pediatric hospitals show a dramatic increase in hospitalizations for suicidal ideation and self-harm. The main causes? solitude, social pressure (amplified by the social media) and theanxiety about the future.

According to current data, there is a gender differences important that highlights higher rates of depression and anxiety for adolescent girls, while boys are more prone to behavioral disorders and use of substances.

Mental health, adolescents, social networks, anxiety, stress, depression

Eating disorders in adolescents

A critical chapter of youth distress, which requires specific attention, is that of Eating Disorders (ED).

Pathologies such asnervous anorexia, the bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder (binge eating disorder) are on the rise, especially in the adolescent and pre-adolescent population, with an increasingly early onset.

These disorders are not a “choice” or a whim, but complex psychiatric pathologies with very serious physical consequences (anorexia, for example, has the highest mortality rate among mental disorders).

  • Anorexia nervosa: Characterized by extreme food restriction, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of one's body.
  • Bulimia nervosa: Marked by cycles of binge eating followed by purging behaviors (such as self-induced vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise).
  • Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating, experienced with great feelings of guilt and loss of control, but without the purging behaviors typical of bulimia.

Social pressure to achieve unattainable aesthetic standards, amplified by social media, performance anxiety, and the emotional fragility typical of adolescence are among the main risk factors fueling this emergency.

The world of work and the risk of burnout

The second front is the professional one. chronic work-related stress, the culture of “always connected” (hyperconnectivity) and economic precariousness are leading, as mentioned, one in five workers one step away from burnout.

This syndrome manifests itself with emotional exhaustion, cynicism towards one's work and a feeling of professional ineffectiveness, with serious repercussions on mental health and productivity.

Mental health tests: how to navigate them

In a context of growing awareness, many people are searching online for "mental health tests." It's important to clarify.

There are validated self-assessment tools, such as:

These are preliminary solutions that can help identify the presence of anxiety, depression, or stress-related symptoms.

However, these tests they have no diagnostic valueThey cannot replace a professional consultation. They should only be used as an initial self-awareness tool to determine whether it's worth pursuing further and seeking qualified help.

Who to contact

The good news is that the taboo around mental health is slowly falling, and institutions are beginning to respond.

  • Institutional initiatives: Il Psychologist Bonus It's a state aid program to support citizens who can't afford psychotherapy. However, it still has many shortcomings and doesn't address the growing national problem.
  • The Calabria model: The most innovative initiative comes from Calabria, which has become the first Italian region to make the presence of a primary school psychologist mandatory of all levels. This is a crucial step in identifying youth distress early and offering accessible, destigmatized support.
  • Listening desks: Many schools and universities are setting up free psychological counseling centers for students.
  • Online services: Alongside public services (Mental Health Centres – CSM) and private practices, in recent years the number of mental health services has grown exponentially. online psychology servicesCertified platforms provide flexible and often cost-effective access to qualified psychotherapists, eliminating geographic and logistical barriers.
  • Emergency telephone lines like Telephone Friend and Samaritans.

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but the first, fundamental step in taking care of yourself and claiming your right to psychological well-being.

Yet, too often, we find ourselves facing problems of various kinds, due in part to inefficiency and a lack of services at the national level.

The care gap: The enormous barrier to accessing services

The Italian problem is not only the increase in disorders, but the difficulty accessing careItaly suffers from a chronic underfunding of public mental health servicesAnd in particular, those who suffer from a disorder must face recognized problems such as:

  • Public services collapsing: Mental Health Centers (CSM), the cornerstone of the public system, are often on the verge of collapse. According to data from the National Council of Psychologists (CNOP), resources allocated to mental health are well below European recommendations.
  • Waiting lists: This results in waiting lists which can last many months, an unbearable time for those experiencing acute discomfort such as a panic attack or depression.
  • The economic barrier: Private psychotherapy has costs that the majority of the population cannot afford on a regular basis. The "Psychologist Bonus" was created precisely to try to fill this gap, but it acts as a buffer on a system that needs structural reforms.

Why don't people still ask for help? The burden of stigma.

Finally, a panoramic picture of Italy cannot ignore the cultural barrier of stigma.

While younger generations (Gen Z and Millennials) are much more open to talking about psychological well-being, in many sections of the population and in work contexts the idea persists that asking for help is a sign of weakness.

Many people, especially men and older people, struggle to acknowledge their discomfort or are ashamed of it. They prefer to talk about "stress" or "exhaustion" rather than "anxiety" or "depression."

This stigma delays seeking help, often transforming a manageable condition into a chronic condition and leading, as seen in the data, to accessing healthcare services only when the situation is already serious, as in the case of visits to the emergency room.

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