Today, October 10, is World Mental Health Day, a good opportunity to reflect on a reality that affects millions of people in Italy, but which is still talked about too little and too late. The numbers tell of a silent emergency, made up of anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress and a sense of bewilderment which affect all ages across the board, but which among young people take on increasingly worrying traits.
According to the Mind Health Report 202428% of Italians suffer from mental or anxiety disorders, a percentage that has grown by six points in just two years. Today there are around 16 million people living with medium or severe psychological distress. Among the most frequent disorders are anxiety and depression, which are more widespread among women and in the under 30 age group.
Yet, only 15% of those who experience significant symptoms turn to a psychologist or psychiatrist. The others remain silent, often for fear of judgment or due to economic and logistical difficulties. In a country where psychological care is not yet accessible to everyone, asking for help becomes a luxury.
Young people who are increasingly fragile, but incapable of saying it
Mental distress among young people must now be seen as a social issue. UNICEF data estimates that one in seven adolescents lives with a diagnosable mental disorder. In Italy, according to a recent consultation by the Authority for Children and Adolescents, over 51% of students declare that they experience recurrent anxiety or sadness, almost 50% feel constantly tired and 46% complain of constant nervousness.
The picture is clear: an entire generation who feels overwhelmed, often alone, but who is unable to ask for help.
Say “I feel bad“still remains a taboo. Despite cultural progress and growing sensitivity towards the topic, the belief persists among young people that admitting to suffering is equivalent to showing weakness. The reason? Probably lies in the fact that society continues to reward productivity, performance, constant presence on social media. In this context, showing a crack becomes a risk to be avoided.
Many kids, instead of talking to an adult or specialist, seek comfort online, in anonymous forums or communities. The Internet thus becomes both a refuge and a trap: a place where you can feel less alone, but also where you can deal with unattainable life models and superficial judgements.
The stigma that weighs more than the pain
Stigma remains the main obstacle on the road to mental health. Even today, those who receive a psychiatric diagnosis or begin a therapeutic journey fear the social consequences: being labeled, excluded, considered “unstableAnd this holds back not only those who suffer, but also families, who often struggle to accept the problem or talk about it openly.
The fear of being judged or misunderstood, of being told “whatever you want it to be, it’s just a period“, pushes many to hide their discomfort, postponing the moment of treatment. But the longer you wait, the more the pain grows and becomes difficult to manage.
Asking for help, however, is an act of awareness, not of fragility.
We need a cultural change, not just a health one
Mental health can no longer be treated as a private matter. Let’s keep in mind that it is a collective problem, which concerns families, schools, the world of work and institutions. The Ministry of Health’s Agenda 2025 promises new investments and concrete measures to expand access to psychological services. But the funds and structures are not enough if the culture surrounding the topic does not change.
We need to learn to talk about mental health like we talk about physical health. We need safe spaces in schools, listening points in neighbourhoods, campaigns that show that psychological distress is not a fault, but a part of life that can be faced and cured.
Say “I’m sick, I need help“It’s not a failure. It’s a gesture of courage, a first step towards freedom.
Sources: Mind Health Report 2024 / UNICEF
