(ANSA) - ROME, 29 MAY - "We are ready to enter schools to ensure an essential function of support to the school system, and thus making the presence of the psychologist at school structural after the pilot experience made in emergency during the pandemic. Italy is lagging behind on this". This was stated to ANSA by the president of the National Council of the Order of Psychologists, David Lazzari, after the latest episode of violence by a young student in Abbiategrasso and the words of the Minister of Education, Giuseppe Valditara, who stressed the need for the figure of the psychologist in schools.
The numerical strength is there, said Lazzari: "In Italy we have 125 thousand professionals registered with the order, so we have an adequate number of psychologists who can intervene, and many of these have already gained experience in the field". In the school years 2020-21 and 2021-22, during the pandemic, in fact, he recalls, "a protocol was signed with the Ministry of Education for the activation of psychological counseling in schools and 70% of schools did so, with positive results. The protocol was not renewed in 2022. Now, however, it is necessary to move from an emergency presence of the psychologist at school to his structural presence".
"It's time to do: that the malaise of the boys is at dramatic levels - observes Lazzari - is demonstrated by dozens of researches. The data tell us that disorders and discomfort have increased in a worrying way, also due to the pandemic". In this context, "psychologists can help the school system to intercept situations of discomfort early and can provide initial help and listening, networking with health services if necessary, not having a care function in the strict sense. Our action is in fact to intercept situations at risk but also to initiate widespread prevention action". Currently, "all Western countries have a school psychology service. On the other hand, already in the 90s, the WHO itself had recommended that countries include psychology in schools. Italy - concludes the president of psychologists - on this front is still behind". (ANSA).
Psychologists, 'ready to go to schools, Italy late'
2023-05-29T15:11:10.971Z
Highlights: "We are ready to enter schools to ensure an essential function of support to the school system" This was stated to ANSA by the president of the National Council of the Order of Psychologists, David Lazzari. In Italy we have 125 thousand professionals registered with the order, so we have an adequate number of psychologists who can intervene, he says. "It's time to do: that the malaise of the boys is at dramatic levels", says Lazzarri. The data tell us that disorders and discomfort have increased in a worrying way.
"We are ready to enter schools to ensure an essential function of support to the school system, and thus making the presence of the psychologist at school structural after the pilot experience made in emergency during the pandemic. (ANSA)
