Rome sees surge in mental health caregiver requests and launches stoma awareness campaign

The Fondazione Don Luigi Di Liegro reported that calls to its free mental‑health support line have quadrupled over the past year, with 60% of requests coming from relatives of people in need, an average age of 38, and 95% of calls originating in Lazio. The service recorded hundreds of calls, many seeking listening support, highlighting growing pressure on families dealing with psychological distress.

Separately, the city of Rome, together with the Association Laziale Stomizzati e Incontinenti (ALSI) and the Assessorate for Social Policies and Health, launched a public‑transport campaign on metro and bus lines to inform stoma patients and their caregivers. The initiative targets roughly 75,000 Italians with stomas, about 6,000 in Rome, aiming to reduce stigma and promote access to the public network of 13 stoma‑therapy clinics.