Psychological Support Service to all students of the University of Bologna and to young people aged between 20 and 28 years resident in Bologna.
Head
Prof. Pio Enrico Ricci Bitti
Clinical Manager
Prof. Fiorella Monti
Description
The Psychological Support Service (SAP) is one of the most consolidated clinical initiatives of the Department of Psychology and has been operating since 1985. In the past, the SAP had an agreement with the local Municipal Company for the Right to Education ("Azienda Comunale per il Diritto allo Studio") and the Municipality of Bologna. The SAP currently receives a contribution from the University of Bologna and has an agreement with the Local Health Authority (AUSL) of Bologna. Staff members are operators from the Department of Psychology.
The Service is free for all students of the University of Bologna, regardless of their age, and for young people aged between 20 and 28 years resident in Bologna. University students/young people who suffer from emotional and relational problems, affective and behavioural disorders, troubles in their academic or working life, can apply to the SAP.
University students attending a course of study in Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini can apply to the respective secretariat (see box Highlights ).
Young people, who come to the Service, fill in a questionnaire and are included in a waiting list. As soon as possible, they meet a member of the staff for a few sessions. The objective of these interviews is to better understand the reasons of the manifested psychological distress. If necessary, a psychotherapy can be proposed.
These cases cannot be followed at the SAP:
- cases of drug or other substances addiction
- cases that require specific psychiatric assistance (use of psychotropic drugs with or without psychotherapy, possible need for hospitalisation).
- cases that require a tailored setting and programme (eating disorders with the need for hospitalisation, long or very long treatment, many sessions per week, family service, etc.).
Because of the existence of a waiting list at the SAP, in a case of emergency, the students/young people can apply to the Mental Health Center (Centro di Salute Mentale, C.S.M.) of AUSL to which they belong.