report: Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Alessia Rosolen, FVG Councilor for Labor, Training, Education, Research, University and Family; Eva Pascoli, President of the Order of Psychologists of Friuli Venezia Giulia
A regional program in Friuli Venezia Giulia offering subsidized psychological counseling to students has distributed €2.25 million between 2022 and 2025, providing 7,729 student psychology bonuses out of nearly 9,000 applications, regional officials said this week.
The initiative, administered by the regional education agency Ardis, covers €275 of the €300 cost of a standard five-session counseling cycle. Families choose their own licensed psychologist, with public funds paid directly to the professional. The program is aimed at students up to age 21 enrolled in secondary schools and vocational training programs.
Demand has grown steadily. In 2022, the program launched with €300,000 and just over 1,100 beneficiaries. By 2025, the region had accredited 585 psychologists, operating at 661 locations across 77 municipalities.
A new call for applications for 2026, backed by €700,000, is now online.
According to regional data, most beneficiaries in 2025 were female students (60%) and upper secondary school students (68%), particularly those attending academic high schools. Anxiety was the most frequently cited reason for seeking support, followed by academic difficulties and family-related conflicts.
Regional officials say the program is designed to complement, not replace, public health services. A similar measure is now under consideration at the national level by Italy’s Ministry of Education.
Information on eligibility and applications for the 2026 bonus is available on the Ardis website.
