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2025-10-02
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Organization and functioning of the Italian Departments of Mental Health in the pandemic and post-pandemic period

Authors

Laura Camoni , Mirabella Fiorino , Antonella Gigantesco , Emanuela Medda , Maurizio Ferri , Debora Del Re , Isabella Cascavilla , Cristina D’Ippolito , Nadia Francia , Angelo Picardi , Gemma Calamandrei , Italian Study Group of Departments of Mental Health

Abstract

Introduction. The pandemic significantly affected mental health, leading to a reorganization of services. This study examines changes in Italy’s Departments of Mental Health (DMHs), comparing surveys from 2021 (during COVID-19) and 2023 (post-pandemic).
Methods. The two surveys involved 19 Italian DMHs and covered variables related to mental health care (number of centres, available staff, services provided and intervention methods).
Results. Between 2021 and 2023, services show structural stability with a solid territorial network. Organizational changes point to greater flexibility and customization, with a stronger semi-residential hospital offer. Human resources give mixed signals: psychologists and health care social workers are increasing, while social workers and psychiatric rehabilitation technicians are decreasing. Clinically, hospitalizations in General Hospital Psychiatric Units (GHPUs), Emergency Department (ED) visits, and self-harm cases are rising, while psychiatric and psychological visits decline. Remote nursing and psychosocial interventions are increasing. The growth in first psychological consultations and users taken into care suggests a gradual return to in-person access and partial prepandemic normality.
Conclusions. The data substantiate the need for continuous attention and adequate support to address post-pandemic mental distress, highlighting the importance of reorganizing services to effectively respond to the new needs of the population.

Keywords: Departments of Mental Health, health care, structure and process indicators, epidemiology

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Authors

Laura Camoni - Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Mirabella Fiorino - Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Antonella Gigantesco - Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Emanuela Medda - Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Maurizio Ferri - Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Debora Del Re - Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Isabella Cascavilla - Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Cristina D’Ippolito - Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Nadia Francia - Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Angelo Picardi - Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Gemma Calamandrei - Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Italian Study Group of Departments of Mental Health - The members of the Italian Study Group of Departments of Mental Health are listed before the References

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Copyright (c) 2025 Istituto Superiore di Sanità

How to Cite
Camoni, L., Fiorino , M., Gigantesco, A., Medda, E., Ferri, M., Del Re, D., Cascavilla, I., D’Ippolito, C., Francia, N., Picardi, A., Calamandrei, G., & Departments of Mental Health, I. S. G. of. (2025). Organization and functioning of the Italian Departments of Mental Health in the pandemic and post-pandemic period. Annali dell’Istituto Superiore Di Sanità. Retrieved from https://annali.iss.it/index.php/anna/article/view/1853
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