On March 3, 2026, the Manifesto for access to psychotherapy for people with disabilities and caregivers was presented to the Chamber of Deputies, promoted by the online medical center Serenis together with FISH – Italian Federation for the Rights of People with Disabilities and Families. This Manifesto is based on the results of a survey conducted with the participation of 351 people with disabilities. The data that emerged highlights significant critical issues: almost 25% of those interviewed stated that they had given up on undertaking psychological treatment despite their perceived need, due to physical, linguistic, communicative, economic, and cultural barriers that make access to mental health services difficult.

The research also highlights the strong need for support among caregivers. In Italy, approximately 12.7 million adults care for family members with disabilities, illnesses, or frailty, and 43% of them believe that psychological support services are not adequately accessible. Furthermore, 50.4% of caregivers interviewed, despite never having used online psychotherapy, say they would consider this option.

The initiative, supported by deputy Ilenia Malavasi with bipartisan involvement from institutions, was launched with the aim of addressing these barriers that limit access to psychological support for many people with disabilities and those who care for them.

The Manifesto proposes a number of objectives to make psychological support more inclusive and accessible. These include: ensuring that therapy is available in person, online, or in a hybrid format; improving the visibility of professionals with specific expertise in disability; promoting specialist training for psychotherapists; developing information desks with accessible materials; and integrating psychological services into the network of local services and associations. There are also plans to create a technical observatory to monitor accessibility standards and the quality of the services offered.

As Vincenzo Falabella, president of FISH, pointed out, psychological well-being is a fundamental component of the right to health and self-determination of people with disabilities. For this reason, psychological support should be considered an integral part of the 'Progetto di Vita', helping to promote full social participation and well-being for people with disabilities and their families.