Pmore than 300 thousand signatures in three days: this is the result from online petition launched by Fedez to defend the psychologist bonus. It’s about important support for those facing mental disorders and who, for economic reasons, cannot afford the necessary psychotherapy sessions. A bonus which now risks a cut in funding and for which the singer has taken to the field by claiming the right to mental health.
Moreover, Fedez has never hidden the fact that he suffered from mental disorders. For this reason, he launched a petition for ask the government to urgently pass the implementing decrees for the psychologist bonus, together with a commitment to allocate adequate funds for mental health. And, after reaching 300 thousand signatures, on social media he shared the letter sent to the minister of health also asking for a meeting to discuss this topic.
The psychologist bonus and the cut in funds
In 2021, the Draghi government had allocated 25 million euros for the psychologist bonus program, recognizing the crucial importance of supporting mental health in society. The current government, however, has drastically reduced these funds to 5 million for the current year and 8 million for 2024.
The psychologist bonus, introduced to cover the costs of psychotherapy sessions, has received huge demand, with 99% of requests meeting the eligibility criteria, according to the INPS 2023 annual report. However, only 10.5% of requests were funded, around 41,600 requests, due to the drastic reduction in available funds.
Mental health in Italy
The alarming data underline the seriousness of the situation, underlines the Fedez Foundation. In Italy, 20% of Generation Z, between the ages of 10 and 20, suffer from mental disorders, according to the World Health Organization. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 25 globally. Istat confirmed that in 2021, over 220 thousand young people, 6.2% of children between 14 and 19 years old, lived in conditions of poor mental health and dissatisfaction in their lives.
Despite the obvious need for psychological support, there are only 2.8 psychologists per 100 thousand inhabitants in hospitals and clinics, while the Istituto Superiore di Sanità indicates the need for at least 1 psychologist for every 1000 inhabitants. Italy invests just 60 euros per citizen in mental health, ranking among the last in Europe.
The petition launched by Fedez
Starting from this data and after experiencing the effects of various mental disorders first-hand, Fedez decided to launch an online petition. The goal is protect the psychologist bonus and ensure rapid access to funds for those in need, underlining the importance of investing in the mental health of Italian citizens, especially young people.
The letter to the Minister of Health sent by Fedez
The rapper then shared the letter sent to the Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci on Instagram Stories presenting the petition, the signatures achieved and the objective of this initiative. «Mental health is a right for everyone. And everyone should have the opportunity to look after their psychological well-being through our national healthcare system» writes the rapper in the letter. «In the petition we ask that funds be allocated to subsidize a public system that Consider mental health the same as physical healthproviding global care for people who need assistance.”
(Instagram Stories @fedez)
The singer then asks for a «increase in the hiring of psychologists». This would allow them to be more present «managing to intercept various types of psychological discomfort and intervene early through prevention and not just treatment actions. It is essential, in fact, that the territory is equipped with health, education and welfare structures that are able to adequately respond to the needs of citizens without the need to use the private sector”.
«The objective of the petition is, therefore, to turn the spotlight on the issue of mental health, in which the government must invest more in order to be able to reverse a trend that risks endangering the social stability of our country and the health of thousands of people.” And again on the psychologist bonus he reiterates: «We know that it is not the definitive answer, but we ask that the law that makes it structural be at least made applicable. May the implementing decrees be issued and that the bonus for 2023 not be wasted.”
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