Italy's main opposition parties on
Friday teamed up with unions representing university students
and middle-school pupils to present a bill for the introduction
of free psychological support for young people at public
education institutes.
The bill is signed by members of the centre-left Democratic
Party (PD), the 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the Green-Left
Alliance (AVS) and was drafted with the Union of University
Students (UDU) and the Network of Middle School Pupils (RSM -
Rete degli Studenti Medi).
It was presented on Friday as March 15 is the Italian national
day to raise awareness about eating disorders.
"We denounce the fact that Italy is the only European country
not to have the figure of the psychologist in its school
system," said UDU and RSM.
"Yet almost 10% of girls and 1% of boys in Italy suffer from
anorexia or bulimia. Today we ask the Government and Parliament
to act quickly.
"Our bill is still pending examination of the Lower House's
Culture Committee and we ask for it to be approved quickly in
order to have psychological, psychotherapy and counseling
services in schools and universities".
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