About 9 million people live with a mental health disorder in Italy, yet public mental health departments treat fewer than one in ten, accounting for about 845,000 people in 2024 according to the latest Mental Health Report from the Italian Ministry of Health. To combat diagnostic delays, service access barriers, and persistent social stigma, a facility redesign initiative has been launched in Teramo, which has seen the renewal of the waiting room and the recreational room at the city’s Mental Health Center.
Humanizing Psychiatric Care in Teramo
The project, titled “Coloriamo i luoghi della salute del cervello,” is ideated and promoted by Lundbeck Italia to humanize psychiatric care environments, bringing the national initiative to Teramo with the objective of adopting a more person-centered approach to care spaces. Maurizio di Giosia, general manager of the Teramo Local Health Authority (Asl di Teramo), stated that the redesign acts as a profound gesture of human respect that centers the patient beyond their diagnosis, noting that When talking about healthcare, we often focus on technologies, therapies, protocols.
They are fundamental, but the oldest and most powerful medicine always passes through human relation and welcome
and adding that This project is not a simple furnishing or painting intervention, it is an act of profound human respect and fits perfectly into a vision that the Asl of Teramo has carried forward with conviction and continuity for a very long time: putting the person at the center of assistance.
Artworks Make Care Settings More Welcoming
Physical surroundings can favor a different experience of care for patients, their families, and healthcare workers. The initiative incorporated artworks from the “People in Mind” graphic arts competition promoted by Lundbeck Italia to raise societal awareness on overcoming stigma and prejudice through the universal and inclusive language of art, aiming to make the care setting more welcoming and better suited to daily activities.
Teramo CSM Records Hundreds of New Patient Intakes
Luigi Olivieri, director of the Teramo CSM, reported that the facility recorded 700 new patient intakes in 2025 and reached 570 new entries during the first nine months of 2026. The patient demographic primarily spans individuals aged 18 to 75, with a lower incidence among those over 65.
Referrals Originate from Practitioners and Local Services
Clinical presentations frequently involve mood and anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders, and an emerging rise in adult autism cases. Referrals originate primarily from general practitioners, hospital discharges, local territorial services, and law enforcement agencies.
Measuring Real-World Impact and Leadership
To measure the real-world impact of the facility changes, project organizers deployed a scientific pre- and post-intervention survey to evaluate patient and staff experiences.
Regional Stakeholders and Integrated Services
The inauguration event at the Teramo facility brought together regional and local health leaders, including Maurizio Brucchi, director of the regional health agency; Carlo D’Ugo, medical director of Asl Teramo; and Franco Santarelli, administrative director of Asl Teramo.