90.8% of Italians, even those who do not practice physical exercise, believe sport is fundamental for physical and mental health and 8 out of 10 are convinced that it is an effective prevention tool against diseases. Almost 79% would like to do more physical activity than they can actually do and many say they do more physical exercise than in the past.
It emerges from research conducted by Human Highway for Assosalute, the National Association of Self-Medication Drugs, part of Federchimica, presented on the occasion of the event "Health and movement: from prevention to remedies for minor ailments" with the participation of Michelangelo Giampietro, Specialist in Sports Medicine and Nutrition Sciences.
Over the last 10 years, the share of those who practice sports has constantly increased: from 59.3% in 2012, to
64.2% of 2017 up to 69.2% of 2022. If the lockdown was a turning point which, on the one hand, increased this awareness, on the other it represented a forced stop which today sees the 42% of occasional athletes struggling to resume pre-pandemic rhythms. Also due to the work rhythms, which according to 6 out of 10 Italians prevent us from moving more than we can, despite the intention.
The relationship between sport and physical and mental health must therefore be improved. In fact, the share of those who do not practice remains high, higher for women than men (38.2% against 23.5%) and for middle-aged people (40.7% between 45 and 54 years, 37.5% for those over 55) and those over 65 (54.8%).
The main inhibitors are poor patience/consistency, laziness and lack of free time.
Photo by Tembela Bohle.
Italy "among the last in Europe" for mental health. Despite an estimated increase in the 30% of diagnoses of depression and other mental pathologies caused by two years of pandemic, especially among young people and students, "zero investments" are indicated within the PNRR while by 2025, in two years, there will be a shortage of another 1,000 psychiatrists, between retirements and resignations. This is the alarm raised by ten scientific societies of Italian psychiatry, from which comes the "urgent" request to establish a dedicated National Agency.
We are moving towards "the impossibility of guaranteeing minimum services in a sector that was already on its knees well before the pandemic, with a lack of investments, a dramatic shortage of doctors and now also dealing with an increase in diagnoses for the pandemic", warn the scientific societies in a meeting organized by Italian Society of NeuroPsychoPharmacology (SINPF).
To confirm Italy among the last in Europe for mental health, investments, which should have grown at least up to the 5% of the national health fund, to reach the objective of 10% indicated at the EU level for high-income countries, they note, they instead "slumped from the already miserable 3.5% of 2018 to 2.75% of 2020. Which was followed by an increasing number of post-pandemic diagnoses."
It means that the 728 thousand citizens treated in Mental Health Departments in 2020 (which went from 183 to 141 from 2015 to 2020) have certainly increased in 2021-22 even if not registered or not yet identified. Added to all this is the flight of staff, both medical and nursing, from departments that have already been understaffed for years. So much so that in 2025, the companies warn, there will be a shortage of another 1,000 psychiatrists due to retirements and resignations. Finally, regional differences remain to complicate the situation.
Despite some weak signals (in the Budget Law and in the guidelines on the DSM) and funding from the EU Commission, "among the resources allocated by the PNRR to health, we do not see a single euro allocated to mental health". In this context therefore comes an appeal, launched in recent days by the SINPF and ten other scientific societies in the sector, including the Italian Society of Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry and the Italian Federation of Operators of the Departments and Services of Addiction (FeDerSerD) for the creation of a National Agency for Mental Health, which "will have to start from scratch to put Italy in a position to balance the accounts with Europe and to restore dignity to those who suffer and to those who work in this sector which is so strategic for Italian society and the economy".
Photo by SHVETS production.
Anxiety, fear, worry about the future, increase in eating disorders and episodes of self-harm: 9 out of ten students show severe discomfort, some also have significant critical issues for their mental health after the pandemic. Just as many believe psychological support at school or university is useful, of these more than one in 3, the 35%, would like to use it.
These are the main results of a survey promoted by the Middle School Students' Network, the University Union and the Spi-Cgil pensioners' union, entitled "Ask me how I'm doing", That it involved 30 thousand high school and university students in one month, and was conducted by the Ires research institute of Emilia Romagna.
Returning to discomfort, i28% of students declared they had eating disorders, 16% of which were triggered by the pandemic, while 14.5% had experiences of self-harm, half coinciding with the pandemic period. 10% has taken substances and 12% has abused alcohol.
The pandemic has also produced a change in behavior and habits, with an increase in the use of social media (78%), video games (30,7%) and smoking (18%). On the other hand, meetings with friends, both online and in person (48%) and taking care of one's physical appearance (37%) have decreased. The 64% experienced a change in sleep patterns. 26.2% of those interviewed have already turned to a psychological support service during the health emergency.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.
Here are some photos from the second meeting of art therapy laboratory organized by the Don Luigi Di Liegro Foundation in collaboration with the Ripetta Art Academy, which took place today in the heart of Villa Borghese.
The teachers of the Academy, accompanied by young students and volunteers from the Foundation, guided the participants on a cultural/educational and at the same time therapeutic journey, based on the union between art and nature.
Through the activity of life drawing, we reproduced and observed the surrounding environment in search of hidden monuments, ancient busts and the historic fountains of the Pincio, without ever losing the amazement that distinguishes those who are able to marvel.
Guiding today's path of the art therapy laboratory are the words of "This immense not knowing. Conversations with trees, animals and the human heart", Of Chandra Candiani, poet and translator:
"A good preliminary practice than any other is the practice of wonder. Practicing not knowing and wondering. Looking around and letting go of the concept of tree, road, house, sea and looking with a gaze that ignores what is known. Exercising wonder cures the sick heart of those who have only been able to exercise fear"
Mental disorders among minors are at risk of becoming chronic. The alarm was launched by the Guarantor Authority for Children and Adolescents (Agia). "The neurodevelopmental and mental health problems of children and young people that emerged during the pandemic risk becoming chronic and spreading on a large scale", stated the President of Agia, Carla Garlatti.
Last week the Guarantor for children and adolescents published the study "Pandemic, neurodevelopment and mental health of children and young people", promoted with the Higher Institute of Health (ISS), with the collaboration of the Ministry of Education . The research, the first scientific one of national significance, identifies among the pathologies: eating behavior, attempted suicide and suicide, self-harm.
For the research Over 90 experts were interviewed, including child neuropsychiatrists, paediatricians, social workers, psychologists, pedagogues and teachers. The professionals interviewed - it is explained - reported eating disorders, suicidal ideation (attempted suicide and suicide), self-harm, alterations in the sleep-wake rhythm and social withdrawal.
In the educational field, then, they have been found learning, attention and language disorders, conduct disorders and cognitive and emotional regulation, as well as fear of contagion, state of frustration and uncertainty about the future, generating insecurity and cases of school dropout.
It has also been reported a increase in requests for help for the use of psychoactive substances, cannabinoids and alcohol, while unaccompanied migrant minors have shown difficulties in managing isolation and quarantine in reception facilities.
More generally the pandemic has caused what the professionals interviewed by the research team defined as a real "mental health emergency". In fact, there has been a surge in requests for help which in many cases has been accompanied by inadequacy and unfairness in responses which have highlighted structural deficiencies and delays prior to the coronavirus.
Children, young people and families have often found themselves forced to turn to private individuals with significant and difficult to sustain economic commitments, which have increased inequalities. At the same time, the lockdown has revealed the potential of telemedicine applied to mental health, but we need to quickly invest in operator training and specific technologies to assist children and young people.
Faced with this scenario of mental disorders among minors the Guarantor Authority has formulated a series of recommendations. "Among them there is first and foremost the need for planning, prevention and treatment actions to overcome regional and local fragmentation. The post-pandemic phase can be an extraordinary opportunity to do so and in general to improve the system. But there is no It's time to waste."
"Adequate resources for services must be provided - stated President Carla Garlatti - and specific responses provided based on age, a number of beds must be guaranteed in departments dedicated to minors and school psychology services must be established in order to activate a connection between school and territory. It is equally important to bring about a cultural change by intervening on the educational role and promoting intergenerational dialogue".
The research lasted a year and will continue for another two, involving up to 35,000 minors aged 6 to 18 in the five regions involved in the study. It was validated by a committee chaired by Professor Paolo Petralia and made up of authoritative representatives from the scientific, academic and psycho-social professions.
Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels
In Italy developmental neuro-psychological disorders affect almost 2 million children and young people. Common risk factors and genetic, neurobiological and environmental components across specific age groups can in fact interfere with the process of neuro-development (that complex period from conception to the first 1,000 days and then up to young adulthood), modifying the development of the brain very early, compromising the neural networks that underlie the maturation of adaptive, motor, communication, learning, emotion and behavior functions. The effects of these changes can be evident from the first years of life, leading to the onset of disorders such as autism, language and learning disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and epilepsy. Or become evident in adolescence, with psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression.
Promoting health and safeguarding neurodevelopment is therefore crucial in determining the good physical and mental health of individuals, as it is in the genesis and possibilities of treatment of neurological, psychiatric and neuro-psychological disorders of childhood and adolescence. With this objective the SYNPIA (Italian Society of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry) launched last May 11, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its foundation and as part of the European Mental Health Awareness Week 2022, the National Day for the Promotion of Neuro -development.
"Targeted and careful interventions are needed to promote neurodevelopment - explained Professor Elisa Fazzi, President of SINPIA and director of the Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit ASST Spedali Civili and University of Brescia - to increase protective factors and reduce the impact of risk factors. Interventions directly to support harmonious emotional, motor, linguistic, cognitive and social development from birth to adolescence, and then interventions to support situations of family vulnerability, greater attention in all environments and life contexts in which children and the kids grow up and much more. Finally, it is necessary to guarantee targeted interventions when signs of risk of neurodevelopmental disorders are present. More and more research - concluded Elisa Fazzi - highlights in fact how positive neurodevelopment, from conception to young adulthood, is fundamental in determining the good physical and mental health of individuals".
Photo by Mohamed Abdelghaffar from Pexels.
Il prossimo 2 maggio inizierà il Corso di formazione per volontari e familiari dal titolo “Percorsi di cittadinanza nella promozione della salute mentale”, organizzato dalla Fondazione Internazionale Don Luigi Di Liegro Onlus. L’iniziativa rientra tra gli obiettivi previsti dal Bando Comunità Solidali 2020, promosso dalla Regione Lazio - Assessorato Politiche Sociali, Welfare e Enti Locali - Direzione Regionale per l’Inclusione sociale - Area Welfare di Comunità e Innovazione Sociale.
"Percorsi di Cittadinanza attiva nella promozione della salute mentale" intende sensibilizzare i cittadini sul tema della salute mentale tramite la conoscenza e la formazione. Il volontariato rappresenta una fonte da sviluppare, valorizzare e dalla quale attingere risorse per creare una società consapevole e attenta verso coloro che soffrono e le loro famiglie. Una società consapevole è capace di accogliere e non respingere la diversità, e questo rappresenta una opportunità per le persone con disturbo psichico per trovare il giusto centro del proprio percorso esistenziale.
PLAN
MODULO I - 2 maggio, orario 17 - 20
"Tecniche di comunicazione"
Jose Mannu, Psichiatra e Psicoterapeuta
Marco Soricetti, Musicoterapeuta e Conduttore del Laboratorio di Musica della Fondazione di Liegro
MODULO II - 7 maggio, orario 10 - 13
"Ascolto attivo, empatia e centralità della relazione"
Alessandro Vento, Psichiatra, Psicoterapeuta e Responsabile Osservatorio sulle Dipendenze
Giorgio Veneziani, Dottore in Psicologia
MODULO III - 14 maggio, orario 10 - 13
"Paradigma della Recovery"
Antonio Maone, Psichiatra, Psicoterapeuta e Direttore Comunità Terapeutica e Residenzialità AslRm1
Daniele Bonarini, Regista PotiPicture
Sara Borri, Psicologa PotiPicture Accademy
MODULO IV - 21 maggio, orario 10 - 13
"Gli strumenti della riabilitazione psichiatrica (socializzazione, arte terapia, cura sul territorio)"
Paolo Paolotti, Psichiatra, Psicoterapeuta e Segretario regionale S.I.R.P. Lazio
Nicola Se Santis, Attore, Stuntman, e Conduttore del laboratorio teatrale della Scuola Piero Gabrielli
MODULO V - 28 maggio, orario 10 - 13
"Studio dei nuovi strumenti informatici e digitali a supporto delle nuove forme di comunicazione e della relazione"
Antonia Lonigro, Psicoterapeuta
MODULO VI - 4 giugno, orario 10 -13
"Il modello degli Ufe (empowerment e self help)"
Giovanni Fiori, Referente per l’associazione “Le Parole Ritrovate” Regione Lazio
MODULO VII - 11 giugno, orario 10 -13
"Il contributo del volontariato nei percorsi socio riabilitativi"
Michele Di Nunzio, Psichiatra e Psicoterapeuta AslRm1
MODULO VIII - 17 giugno, orario 17 - 20
"Gestione della sindrome di burn-out, organizzazione dei servizi territoriali e delle attività della Fondazione"
Jose Mannu, Psichiatra e Psicoterapeuta
Per info e iscrizioni: Tel: 06 6792669 - segreteria@fondazionediliegro.it
La Fondazione Di Liegro e la formazione al volontariato
Taking a break from social media is good for your health and increases your sense of well-being. This is demonstrated by a study coordinated by the University of Bath and published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, which asked a group of people aged between 18 and 72 (average age 29) to stop using social media for a week. For some participants this meant gaining around nine hours of time for themselves, which they would otherwise have spent on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.
The study involved 154 people who spent an average of 8-9 hours a week on social media. After measuring the levels of
depression, anxiety and well-being of all participants, some of them were asked to suspend the use of social media for 7 days or drastically reduce it to a few minutes.
A week later, the researchers observed significant differences between the scores for well-being, anxiety and depression of the group without social media and those of the control group. In particular, in terms of well-being, the group that had suspended the use of social media recorded 4.9 points more than the others, while the levels of depression and anxiety had dropped by 2.2 points and 1.7 points respectively.
“Scrolling social media has become so common that many of us do it almost without thinking, but there are growing concerns about the effects of these tools on mental health”, says Jeff Lambert, first author of the study.
Researchers know well that social media are part of people's lives and that for many they have become a tool
essential for expressing oneself and interacting. However, Lambert notes, "many of the participants in our research reported positive effects from stopping social media use, with improved mood and less anxiety in general. Our study suggests that even just a small break can have a positive impact."
For researchers, however, the effects of suspending the use of social media for long periods remain to be investigated (ANSA).
Photo by Eren Li from Pexels
Mental health, long neglected and underfunded, "received the final blow with the pandemic and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan pays little attention to it". With the paradox that, "just when mental disorders increase, dedicated health services decrease". Starting from a personnel problem: among the public, the national average is just 3.3 psychologists per 100 thousand inhabitants, with a range that goes from 16 in Valle d'Aosta to 1.3 in Piedmont.
This is what emerges from the "Civic report on health. Citizens' rights and federalism in healthcare", presented by Active Citizenship on May 5th.
The problems reported by citizens to the Integrated Health Protection Project regarding mental health represent 12.8% of reports in the field of local assistance and “show a growing structural deficit in mental health services.” They describe the desperation for managing a situation that has become unsustainable at family level (28%), the poor quality (24%) and the difficulty in accessing public care (20%).
In Italy, 126 Mental Health Departments provide public assistanceand, of which a peak of 27 was recorded in Lombardy, and a total of 1,299 territorial structures, equal to 2.6 per 100 thousand inhabitants: Tuscany recorded the highest value of structures (7.5), followed by Valle d'Aosta (5.7) and Veneto (4.4). As many as 15 Regions are below the national average. As regards staff, Liguria has the best ratio of doctors per inhabitants with 13.8, followed by Tuscany and PA Trento (12.8 each). Also in this case there are 13 Regions that present data lower than the national average (equal to 9): black jersey in Veneto (5.9) and Marche (6). In light of this, the 2022 psychological bonus introduced by Milleproroghe disappointed patient associations "and to many - explains the Report - it seemed like a way to make up for the oversight in the Pnrr". Confirming how much mental health is neglected.
MANIFESTO FOR MENTAL HEALTH: THOSE WHO SUFFER SHOULD BE TREATED IN THEIR COMMUNITY
Photo by SHVETS production from Pexels
An increase of 36% in symptoms associated with eating disorders and a boom in hospitalizations, increased by 48%, in the pandemic period: it is the domino effect that Covid has generated in patients with eating disorders including bulimia, anorexia nervosa and other food-related pathologies. These are the data that emerged from a study published byInternational Journal of Eating Disorder, a review of 53 studies conducted on the topic and which involved a total of over 36 thousand patients, with an average age of 24 years, of which over 90% were women.
The alteration of eating habits - from the desire to 'hoard' more food for fear of famine linked to the lockdown, to poorly structured meals, to significant weight gains - was the tip of the iceberg of a psycho-emotional fragility remained submerged: feelings of strong loneliness, abandonment and separation from the real context, worsening of mood, suicidal ideas, acts of self-harm, increased visits to the emergency room. The data from this international study were anticipated and confirmed by a multicenter survey conducted in Italy on people with eating disorders published in the Journal of Affective Disorders in 2021.
"We could define it as a 'hunger for food and the soul', an illness of the body and mind which confirms the close relationship between
brain and intestine, to which patients with eating disorders who are more exposed to depression and anxiety are more sensitive than the general population - he explains Matteo Balestrieri, co-president of the Sinpf and full professor of psychiatry at the University of Udine -. To aggravate the mental and metabolic health picture, there is also the difficulty in accessing treatment, i remote contacts with referring doctors, uncertainties related to the pandemic, changes in normal routine, the loss of structural fixed points and social contacts, the negative influence of the media".
"The data emerging from this international study are also confirmed in Italy, especially affecting young people - specifies Claudio Mencacci, co-president of the Sinpf and emeritus director of neurosciences and mental health at the ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco in Milan -. A recent multicenter survey conducted in Italy on people with eating disorders, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders in 2021, highlighted that during the lockdown there was a significant increase in anxiety (+20%), depression (+20%), post-traumatic symptoms (+16%), panic (+30%) and insomnia (+18%). After the first acute phase of the pandemic (the lockdown) most of these symptoms remained at the same level, while anxiety levels increased further (+10%) testifying to a general malaise and insecurity generated by the pandemic".
"Altered relationship with food, psychological distress, limitation of access to treatment - concludes Balestrieri - are a dramatic 'trinomial' for patients with eating disorders. We saw it every day in 'real life', today it is confirmed by studies: The
pandemic context, isolation, the loss of fixed points, the uncertainty of the future have exacerbated the fragility of this class of patients which in everyday life has translated into the search for more food, as a compensatory and rewarding act for the inability to accept and manage the sudden change in routine and the consequences that Covid has generated".
COVID AND TEENAGERS: INCREASED MENTAL DISCOMFORT
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