National Action Plan for Mental Health

Piano di azioni nazionale per la salute mentale (PANSM)

The National Plan of Actions for Mental Health (PANSM) targets the entire population, focusing on specific priority areas to guide regional and local projects. It aims to implement care pathways responsive to current population needs, renewing service organization, integration, work methods, and clinical programs. It is developed by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Interregional Technical Group for Mental Health (GISM) of the Conference of Regions, the document outlines health objectives, actions, actors, criteria, and indicators for assessment and evaluation. The Ministry of Health monitors the plan's regional implementation, involving the Interregional Health Commission. Monitoring includes assessing regional policies, administrative acts, planning documents, recommendations, guidelines, and projects related to mental health. Operational documents stemming from this general strategy aim to enhance the appropriateness and effectiveness of interventions by the Regions. Notably, the plan addresses psychiatric residential care for adults, therapeutic-rehabilitative interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders in children and adolescents, and care pathways for schizophrenia, mood disorders, and severe personality disorders. The plan emphasizes the need for differentiated residential care intensity levels to improve treatments and reduce disparities. It advocates for an approach based on individualized care pathways, renewing service organization, team working methods, and offered clinical programs. The operational documents further provide guidelines for addressing the challenges posed by psychiatric residential facilities for adults, therapeutic interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders in children and adolescents, and care pathways for schizophrenia, mood disorders, and severe personality disorders. The plan has seen implementation in various regions, with notable progress in addressing objectives related to eating disorders, classification of residences for adults and minors, autism, and the criminal circuit. The comprehensive monitoring approach ensures the plan's effectiveness and adaptation to regional contexts.