Excluded from the budget law in December, the “psychologist bonus” could return with the Milleproroghe decree under the pressure of the Democratic Party. The deputy dem Filippo Sensi has presented an amendment to find economic coverage (40 million) for psychological and psychotherapeutic assistance vouchers to be assigned based on the ISEE. The amendment also mentions 7 million for psychological counseling and the strengthening of neuropsychiatry services for children, specialist assistance and the Alzheimer’s fund. “These are decisive hours for the amendment on the psychologist bonus. I am confident that the government, which has at heart this issue that affects many young people – and not only – facing the test of the pandemic, will do everything possible and beyond to give a concrete answer now already in this milleproroghe ”, wrote Sensi.
The petition on Change for a double bonus – an initial one of 150 euros one-off and the other more consistent and progressive linked to the ISEE – launched by the journalist Francesco Maesano it has reached nearly 300,000 signatures. But in the meantime, the amendment is currently set aside and there is a tug-of-war between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economy to recover resources.
Covid, healthcare in burnout: one in five operators has asked the psychologist for help
by Michele Bocci
“The time is now,” said the newly elected dem deputy Cecilia D’Elia. “It would be a matter of civilization – adds the colleague Alessandro Zan – The government supports him with conviction. Young people are paying a very high price for the pandemic, including in terms of mental health. Supporting them is a duty “.
And so also the group leader Pd in the Chamber, Debora Serracchiani: “We believe that there is no more time to waste in adopting the psychologist bonus, which is essential for the protection of mental health and the well-being of especially young people. The discomfort and suffering caused in many people by the pandemic represent a real social emergency, for this we have presented an amendment to the milleproroghe decree: it is an urgent measure “.
For the vice president of senators dem Caterina Biti “it is a sacrosanct proposal to respond to the mental health emergency that is a reality in the lives of millions of people”. After two years of pandemic, with the increase in cases of depression, anxiety, stress, psychological fragility, “there are no more alibis, there are no more excuses: the government goes from words to deeds and accepts this proposal. weeks, all the political forces said they were in favor: the time has come to demonstrate it, firmly supporting the amendment and giving a concrete signal to the country. .
In the tortuous national path of the mental health bonus, there are those who have led the way and made it by themselves. Lazio has invested 10.9 million to activate psychological support for young people and families through listening desks, vouchers and strengthening local services. “We cannot obscure the fact that the pandemic, in addition to the health problem caused by the virus, has left enormous psychological damage in many people, especially in the new generations. One in four adolescents have the clinical symptoms of depression and one in five of anxiety disorder, in both cases the numbers have doubled compared to the prepandemic data “, said the president of the Lazio Region. Nicola Zingaretti.
Lombardy, and similarly Campania, has announced the institution of the basic psychologist who will provide free services to all citizens who cannot afford the expense of a private professional. Municipalities are also moving: Rimini is working on a bonus for young or fragile residents; City Hall 9 of Milan has decided to allocate 30,000 euros to allow about 26,000 young people aged 10 to 25 to take advantage of some sessions with a local psychologist; For 15 years in the small town of San Giovanni in Marignano the psychological help desk has been free for all citizens.