Reframing Mental Health Governance in Italy: Psychological Competencies and Third Sector In-tegration in the PANSM

<p>The Italian National Action Plan for Mental Health 2025-2030 promotes a broader view of mental health, with greater attention to prevention, continuity of care and community-based services. However, there is still a gap between this vision and the way the Plan is expected to be implemented. The proposed system remains strongly centered on specialist and psychiatric services, while psychological support, early intervention and prevention in everyday settings receive less attention. This contribution focuses on the role that third sector Organizations can play in addressing this gap. Voluntary associations, social cooperatives and user-led organizations are often closely connected to local communities and can reach people who may struggle to access formal services. Their work can support early recognition of distress, reduce stigma and help maintain continuity between care and daily life. Yet the Plan still tends to describe the third sector mainly as a provider of services rather than as an active partner in planning and decision-making. To make its community-oriented vision more concrete, stable forms of collaboration with these organizations are needed, together with stronger psychological expertise and greater investment in prevention.</p>

Keywords: National Action Plan for Mental Health; third sector; community mental health; prevention; psychological care; service integration

Valentina E. Di Mattei, Francesca Gatti, Antonio Catarinella, Reframing Mental Health Governance in Italy: Psychological Competencies and Third Sector In-tegration in the PANSM in "RIVISTA DI PSICOLOGIA CLINICA" 1/2026, pp 9-20, DOI: 10.3280/rpc1-2026oa23593