(Finance) – Around three hundred young students and their teachers, coming from eight secondary schools in Milan and many others connected from all over Italy via streaming, took part in the event “But are you out?” which took place in Milan, at the Testori Auditorium of Palazzo Lombardia, to explore the dynamics related to mental health and its fragility. The meeting, promoted by The Bridge Foundation, with the unconditional support of Angelini Pharmasaw the participation, together with doctors and experts, of Paola Frassinetti, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Education and Merit and Marco Alparone, vice-president and councilor for budget and finance of the Lombardy region. The singer and actor also spoke to young people about mental health Michele Bravi. The event was organized under the patronage of the Lombardy Region.
In recent years, mental fragility among young people has emerged as an urgent topic, underlining how necessary it is to promote a culture of psychological well-being and break down prejudices related to mental health. In such a scenario the The Bridge Foundation project offers the opportunity for young people to approach the debate on mental health with empathetic and accessible language. The objective is to raise awareness in order to recognise, understand and better manage the emotional dynamics of themselves and their peers through an open and interactive dialogue with experts, psychiatrists, psychologists and witnesses close to the world of youth. Unfortunately, due to stigmatization and discrimination, people with mental disorders can lose their human rights in economic, social and cultural terms. The stigma, it should be remembered, is based on prejudices without any scientific basis.
In the first edition the children were asked to create a slogan on the topic of stigma, while during 2022 the emphasis was on mental well-being. A contest was launched and the participating classes were asked to produce a short story, an illustrated table, a comic or a photograph on the theme of the stigma associated with mental fragility, with a particular focus on schizophrenia, and declined with respect to mental well-being as determining factor of health. To enhance these contributions, a was created digital library on the HarmoniaMentis.it portal to collect the works produced by the children, enriched by in-depth information sheets created thanks to the contribution of experts in the sector.
“According to WHO data – he said Paola Frassinetti, undersecretary of state of the Ministry of Education and Meritin a video message – in Europe around 9 million adolescents live with mental health problems, depression and anxiety. This is a real mental health emergency and complex situations are becoming more frequent in schools. This Ministry pays maximum attention to the inclusion and fight against prejudice of those suffering from mental disorders. The initiatives of The Bridge Foundation are an example of how to raise awareness among young people, offering them concrete tools.”
“As a Region,” he said Marco Alparone, vice-president and councilor for budget and finance of the Lombardy region – we are committed to promoting initiatives that encourage open dialogue on mental health, especially among young people. This event represents an important opportunity to raise awareness and provide support tools to students and teachers, helping to build a culture that welcomes fragilities without stigmatizing them. Supporting these projects means taking care of the future of our communities, promoting the psychological well-being and social inclusion of the new generations.”
“Young people – said Rosaria Iardino, president of The Bridge Foundation – today find themselves living and growing in a complex and interconnected context, where mental fragility often emerges as a consequence of multiple social, scholastic and digital pressures. Today we wanted to offer them a space to listen and discuss, in which mental well-being is recognized as an essential component of health. It is essential to promote a culture that allows young people to feel welcomed without fear of being judged, and to open up to a constructive dialogue on emotions and difficulties. Only in this way can we transform stigma into understanding and mutual support.”
“We are pleased to support The Bridge Foundation in this initiative dedicated to young people and mental health. As a company,” he declared Domenico Lucatelli, Market Access & Value head Angelini Pharma – we are committed daily to promoting greater awareness and promoting access to care, countering the prejudices that still surround mental frailty today. We firmly believe that only through dialogue and education can we build a society in which everyone feels encouraged to take care of their psychological well-being, without fear of being judged.”
Regional councilors also took part in the event Carlo Borghetti and Emanuele Monti, who discussed the topic of mental fragility in a double interview, offering the young people present some food for thought taken from their personal experiences. According to the two councillors, the Region has the task of offering services close to young people and those who train them, such as educators and teachers, but also to create places where young people can be supported.
Bernardo Dell’Osso, director of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction at Fatebenefratelli – Sacco in Milanspoke about the dangers of drug abuse, particularly cannabis, underlining that today, much more than in the past, it is essential that those who decide to use substances are well informed of the effects that consumption can have on their mental health, especially if prolonged over time and in problematic or pathological conditions.
Matteo Porcellana, director of Community Psychiatry at Niguarda in Milaninstead highlighted the urgency of prevention, evaluating the predisposition and the first signs of disorder, adding that the resources allocated to mental health are few and that the majority of mental disorders begin in adolescence, in 75% of cases, before 25 years.
She also intervened Valeria Locati, psychologist psychotherapist ASST Rhodensewho underlined the importance of activating psychological listening desks, asking for the intervention of the family or taking advantage of classroom projects managed by specialized healthcare personnel.
In the end, Michele Monina, writer and music critic, he focused, together with the singer and actor Michele Bravi, on the stigma in everyday language. An open discussion on the importance of words, written, sung and spoken.