As the sun casts a warm glow over a Roman park, a peculiar conversation unfolds between me and my friend Clarissa. She casually asks if, like her and her circle of friends, I too use an AI therapist. To my surprise, I confess that I do.
This mutual revelation highlights a growing trend in Italy, where the use of AI-powered mental health support is on the rise. According to a recent survey, a staggering 81% of Italians still consider mental health issues a sign of weakness, while 57% cite cost as the primary barrier to accessing professional help.
In a country where the echoes of the brutal state-run psychiatric institutions of the past still linger, the revolutionary 1978 Basaglia law closed these facilities, leading to the gradual replacement with community-based services. However, the downside is a system with insufficient resources and a lack of public awareness, perpetuating the stigma and difficulties in accessing care.
My friend, a psychotherapist in Catania, confirms that the use of AI therapists in Italy is widespread and steadily increasing. This contrasts sharply with the situation in the UK, where far fewer people have opted for this route. The contributing factors, it seems, are a mix of cultural and economic pressures.
“It feels liberating to be able to tell everything to my AI therapist, knowing it is both free and a completely non-judgmental space,” says my friend Giuseppe, from Calabria. He explains that the anxiety of paying more than he could afford and the self-consciousness of seeking help, which is still perceived as only for severe cases in his small town, are no longer issues.
The more I speak with my Italian friends, the more I’m convinced that AI therapy could be a revolution in places like Italy, where meaningful strategies to tackle the stigma around mental health conditions are sorely lacking. Giuseppe’s example is particularly poignant, as he found the anonymity and empathy of his AI therapist invaluable in addressing issues he had never disclosed to anyone, including his own family.
Of course, there are valid concerns about the ethical implications of these digital relationships. Measuring the true health of the bond between vulnerable people and their AI therapists is no easy task. Yet, in a digital age where our emotions are often commodified for profit, the promise of free, clever, and endless support can be enticing.
Until mental health support becomes more affordable and accessible, AI therapists may be the best option on the table for many Italians seeking solace and support. While older generations may not always understand this shift, the potential for these digital tools to break down the barriers of stigma and cost is undeniable.
