Psychologist Bonus, Why Is Mental Health Not Worth an Investment?

Several times we have addressed the issue of mental health, which in our country is still often the subject of taboo, if not stigma. Significant measures are needed to accelerate a cultural change which, also thanks to the pandemic, is taking its first timid steps. Measures like the psychologist bonus, foreseen by an amendment later rejected by the Government; an online petition asks for its introduction in the Milleproroghe Decree, providing for a public contribution only one from 150 euros and then up to 1600 per year for the lower income brackets (ISEE up to 1500).

Yes, it is true there is no money to be allocated to any bonus that comes to mind and everyone is defending their own backyard. However, it is not clear why a country like ours decides to allocate resources to support for the renovation of the facades of buildings, to replace a shower or for a scooter, but excludes doing it for the mental health. Are we really still at this point? Don’t we really believe that the health of our minds is worth an investment of money, time and energy?

We talked about it with Luca Mazzucchelli, psychologist, popularizer (online on YouTube, but not only) and founder of MindCenter.

Is the government wrong in not instituting the psychologist bonus?
“All of us, including the Government, focus our attention on the health and economic crisis: two facts of reality that sincerely worry me too. But the real game in my opinion is the human crisis: if the men and women who work are psychologically broken, how will companies deal with this complex period? “.

Excuse me, but what does mental health have to do with the economic crisis and with work?
“Many of us, also due to the pandemic, are psychologically limping, anxious or depressed. When we are too scared, when we are unable to manage emotions effectively, when we feel excessively down in the dumps, the actions we take have another consistency and lead to partial results. Conversely, if we are comfortable with ourselves, then we also perform better at work and in society ».

Would the psychologist bonus help change our view of mental health?
«Yes, because little is always better than nothing. In my experience there are many cases where few interviews with a psychologist improve life. However, I fear alone it would not have been enough because often the most important problem is not the economic one “.

And what would it be?
«The cultural one: in most cases the problem is not the economic cost, but the emotional cost. If I have to go to the psychologist I have to get naked, see my limits, force myself to change; institutions should first of all promote a culture of psychology and mental health in which the psychologist is no longer seen as the doctor of the insane or the frail ».

If he is not the doctor of the frail, who is the psychologist?
“He is the doctor of the brave. But to understand it we need a change of vision, without which we can also put the psychologist free for everyone and in any case few would go there. I’ll give you a practical example: about fifteen years ago I worked for free in some Milanese pharmacies where, although there was a project that allowed you to take advantage of eight meetings for about ten euros each, there was no queue outside the door ” .

Will the pandemic be enough to change the point of view on the importance of mental health?
“Fortunately, people’s perception is changing a bit: the psychological revolution comes from below and in recent years even social networks have made it possible to spread a lot on these issues; it is not secondary, for example, that people like Chiara Ferragni and Fedez say about their profiles that they do psychological therapy ».

So is there a small change that comes from below?
«Yes, in particular the number of people who find the courage to talk about mental problems and to say that success also comes from knowing how to ask for help is increasing. There is a rising trend on the theme of vulnerability and showing one’s frailties ».