Italy mental health hotline sees surge in parental calls, stays open through August

Calls to Italy’s free mental‑health telephone service SOSS have risen sharply, with 60 % of contacts coming from relatives of people in need and parental requests jumping from 8 % to 35 % of calls in the first half of 2025. The service, run by the Fondazione Don Luigi Di Liegro, recorded hundreds of calls in the past year, 95 % of which originated in the Lazio region, and will remain open throughout August to meet the growing demand for support, orientation and listening.

Experts note that the increase reflects broader concerns about adolescent distress, anxiety and depression. They argue that early intervention must begin outside clinical settings – in homes, schools and community spaces – with parents, teachers and coaches asking open‑ended questions rather than focusing solely on academic performance. Strengthening these social‑educational supports is seen as essential to complement the clinical care offered by psychologists and psychiatrists.