In addition to mental health, interventions are financed for autism spectrum disorders, learning and eating disorders, intellectual disabilities and psychotic onset
June 17, 2024 – Patients of the Centers mental healthchildren and adults with autism spectrum disorderspeople with intellectual disabilitiesor even those, especially among the younger ones, who have disorders of eating behavior or of thelearning.
They are not alone: for them, and for all the most vulnerable who need assistance, care and services, there is support from “Mental health implementation plan” 2024approved in recent days by Regional CouncilThat he confirms also for this year 40 million euros of the Regional health fund for projects, actions and interventions to be carried out throughout the territory.
Seven areas envisaged by the Plan, which distributes the resources among Health authorities in Emilia-Romagna: “Fund for possible autonomy-mental health” (33 million 705 thousand euros), “Autism-PRIA programme” for children and adults (4 million 230 thousand euros in total), assistance for people with eating disorders (820 thousand euros), “Regional program for specific learning disorders” (565 thousand euros), “Psychotic onset programme” (400 thousand euros) and, finally, care of people with intellectual disabilities (280 thousand euros).
The objective of the interventions and the underlying theme of the mental health implementation plan is the personalized therapeutic approach based on ‘Health Budget’: it’s about the innovative organizational-management model in the socio-health field experimented by the Emilia-Romagna Region and addressed not only to people with severe mental disorders, but also to those with complex socio-health needs (for example strong social marginality, disabilities, pathological addictions), which aims to putting people at the center of intervention strategies. Therefore to create treatment paths based on a personalized therapeutic programin the name of maximum integration and flexibility of intervention by health and social services, which aims to limit hospitalizations in health facilities through the strengthening of home interventions.
“Investing in mental health and support for vulnerable people is an essential priority for our Region – states the councilor for health policies, Raffaele Donini-. We confirm our commitment with an investment of 40 million euros which will allow us to guarantee early diagnoses, personalized treatments and continuous, integrated assistance. It is essential to put the patient at the center by offering treatment paths that respect individual dignity and needs. Only in this way can we build a more inclusive and supportive society, in which no one is left behind. In recent years – adds Donini – we have achieved important results thanks to the collaboration of clinicians, patients and family associations. It is in this direction that we will continue to act in the field of possible autonomy, programs for nutrition and eating disorders, early psychosis, learning disorders, childhood and adult autism and intellectual disabilities”.
The breakdown by ASL
Of the 40 million total resources available, at the local health authority Piacenza goes 3,192,564 euros, Ausl Parma 5,888,310 euros, Ausl Reggio Emilia 5,026,392 euros, Local Health Authority Modena 4,358,867 euros, Ausl Bologna 7.032.090, Ausl Imola 3.294.364, Ausl Ferrara 4.453.864, Ausl Romagna 6,753,549.
The breakdown by area
33 million and 705 thousand euros are intended for “Fund for possible autonomy-Mental health”: they will finance low intensity social and health care interventions for patients in mental health centres. Among the recipients there are people discharged from former psychiatric hospitals and Rems who require specific mental health assistance, those discharged but subjected to non-custodial security measures, people subject to alternative measures to detention and sent by the judicial authority in adult mental health residences.
820 thousand euros are assigned to the program for assistance to young between 12 and 25 years old with eating disorders and to support their residential care.
Others 400 thousand euros are intended for the program “Psychotic onset”, which promotes the health and well-being of people at the onset of psychosis in mental health centres, in line with the recommendations of the Region.
The regional program for i specific learning disorders is financed with 565 thousand eurosin particular for the implementation of early diagnosis and the patient care process, and concerns both young people (6-18 years) and adults.
Overall 4 million and 230 thousand euros are reserved for the program Autism-Pria (“Integrated regional program for territorial assistance to people with autism spectrum disorder), both in children and adults.
In the end, 280 thousand euros are provided for the care of people with intellectual disabilities (range 0-17 years).
To know more
Healthcare offer in Emilia-Romagna and 2023 data
In Emilia-Romagna there is a wide network of regional services, made up of: Departments of Mental Health and Pathological Addictions, which include outpatient clinics, intensive or extensive residences, Day Centers and local Day Hospitals; Hospital psychiatric services (in turn made up of psychiatric diagnosis and treatment services and child neuropsychiatry departments); and, finally, from private hospitalization.
In 2023, there were 64,975 people assisted by Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Services, 4.2% more than in 2021; the majority (61.0%) are male and are mainly aged between 6 and 13 years (52.0%). Among the prevalent diagnoses are psychological disorders with onset in childhood (language disorders, learning disorders, etc.), psycho-behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorders and mental retardation. Compared to 2019, diagnoses linked to autism spectrum disorders (+55.7%), nutrition and eating disorders (+86.4%), psycho-behavioural disorders (+27.2%) increased; diagnoses of disorders linked to attention deficit (ADHD) also increased by 24.7%. 80,740 – of which 43.0% were women – were patients treated by adult mental health centers (+9.2% compared to 2021); the largest share of users is in the over 45 age group (64.3%), but there is a 10.8% of very young users (under 25) and a further 12.4% of users aged between 25 and 34 years old. The over 55s are 43.6%. Among the most frequent diagnoses are disorders attributable to the spectrum of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders (23.0%) and personality disorders (13.3%). Diagnoses linked to autism spectrum disorders doubled, going from 619 diagnoses in 2019 to 1,248 in 2023 (+101.6%) and diagnoses linked to nutrition and eating disorders (+23.6%).
Finally, 21,563 (data from the first half of 2023) have followed a treatment path at the regional Pathological Addiction Services, which after the decrease in the demand for treatment recorded during the pandemic years is returning to previous levels. In the latter area, the prevalent area is that relating to “drugs and/or medicines” (63.8%) followed by alcohol-related problems (30.2%), gambling (4.5 %) and smoking (1.5%).
Overall, compared to 2021, the number of people followed by child and adolescent neuropsychiatry services increased by 4.2%, and those followed by adult mental health services increased by 9.2%.
Distribution of funds for local health authorities (per intervention program) (14.68 KB)
