A hot topic these days is that of basic psychologist, or the new professional figure of the psychologist envisaged by the national health system. This is a mental health professional who should carry out a role similar to that of the general practitioner.
A new figure for primary care that is starting to be integrated into many territorial services but not without some difficulty at a practical and political level. In fact, the figure of the basic psychologist has been discussed for about 15 years but it has never been a priority for the institutions.
La pandemic situation and the enormous recourse of citizens to the "psychologist bonus"” has further demonstrated the need to strengthen the healthcare offering also in the psychological sphere, speeding up these projects that had been put aside.
What does a basic psychologist do?
Lo basic psychologist is a mental health professional who provides free consultations across a broad spectrum of psychological issues. Just as one goes to the GP for physical pain, one can now go to the GP for anxiety, malaise and discomfort that may not even have the character of a full-blown problem.
The general psychologist can then proceed with the patient's care taking and develop a diagnostic pathway and a subsequent psychological support program. In this case, also making use of the structures and professionals specialized in the field of the identified problem (to learn more about how the care in psychology works, continue on Scientific Psychotherapy).
The aim is to provide first-class care and, where necessary, send to the specialist psychologist as your GP might do with your ophthalmologist or dermatologist.
This is obviously a free service which falls within the primary care provided by the national health system.
The basic psychologist in Campania
La Campania was the first region in Italy to have established the basic psychologist through Regional Law no. 35 of 3 August 2020, which came into force definitively one year later, on 12 December 2021. The regional law provides for the establishment of the basic psychology service in all the ASL of the region.
The President of the Region, Vincenzo De Luca, met after this occasion with the President of the Order of Psychologists of Campania, Armando Cozzuto, to explain the nature of the service. A service that wants to address all citizens and in particular the weakest and most at-risk groups of the population. For example, children, the elderly, the disabled.
Armando Cozzuto proudly underlines the primacy of the Campania region and explains that the goal is to guarantee two psychologists in every health service, which is what the law requires after all. To meet this need, the hiring of 150 psychologists throughout the region will be enough.
New staff are now being planned for hiring throughout 2022 and 2023 to make these new departments operational.
Basic Psychologist: What is the situation in other regions?
The situation is not uniform across the Italian territory, there is a lack of strong central coordination. After all, it is normal to expect this given that healthcare has always been managed by the regions have a certain freedom of action and are also influenced by the policies carried out in that region.
Within the national panorama there are several examples of regions that have developed the first projects, although not in a widespread manner like in Campania. Where they have not yet been put into practice, there are also now several politicians who have promoted motions and who are carrying out the necessary work to develop these projects.
We can cite examples of the Lazio who invested in this project ten million e of Emilia Romagna which invested 23. Campania, even though it was the first to move, remains at an investment of 3 million, which is much lower.
There are also many regions that have directly involved the professional orders of psychologists, divided into regional councils, which are helping to coordinate these projects in the best possible way.
Article published on 2 September 2022 - 18:34
