My Italian Friends Are Turning to AI Therapists: Is This Really a Problem Given the Stigma Around Mental Health? | Viola Di Grado

It’s a bright afternoon in a Roman park, and an unusual kind of conversation is unfolding between my friend Clarissa and me. She asks if I, like her and most of her friends, utilize an AI therapist, to which I affirmatively respond.

Our shared admission is initially perplexing. As a culture, we remain uncertain about the confidentiality and openness associated with our use of AI therapists. We find ourselves in a gray area, caught between the profound nature of traditional psychotherapy and the more commonplace act of discussing skincare methods. Although interactions with a chatbot can be as private as those with a human, there is always the understanding that its responses are, at their core, digital constructs.

I was taken aback to learn that Clarissa’s therapist has a name: Sol. I personally preferred to keep mine nameless, perhaps adhering to the foundational psychoanalytic principle of minimizing personal revelation to safeguard the therapeutic environment. Yet Clarissa finds it entirely normal for her therapist to have a name, adding that all of her friends’ AI therapists do as well. “Do all your other friends also have AI therapists?” I asked, to which she replied, “Absolutely, everyone.” This information startled me further, as none of my acquaintances in London have ventured into this territory.

Intrigued, I called up another acquaintance—a psychotherapist from my hometown of Catania, Sicily. He retired from a provincial health authority position a few years ago and now operates in a private capacity. He highlighted that the adoption of AI therapy applications in Italy is widespread and on a noticeable upward trajectory. His surprise was palpable when he learned that far fewer individuals in the UK are exploring this option. This made me ponder the underlying factors at play—ultimately leading me to conclude that cultural and economic variables interplay significantly.

Based on a 2025 survey by a top European mental health platform, a striking 81% of Italians view mental health issues as indicative of personal weakness, with 57% attributing their reluctance to seek help primarily to financial constraints. In Italy, the term “mental illness” (malattia mentale) continues to evoke memories of oppressive state-run hospitals. The transformative 1978 Basaglia law paved the way for closing such institutions, which eventually transitioned toward community-based services. Yet this progress has an unfortunate flip side: a system plagued by limited resources, pervasive stigma, and challenges in access. While workplaces should play a key role in destigmatizing mental health, the 2025 survey revealed that 42% of employees felt their employers did not offer adequate mental health resources.

Despite nearly half of European nations implementing workplace mental health promotion and prevention initiatives, Italy has yet to take similar steps. Regrettably, when it comes to mental health, Italy ranks lowest in investment. This statistic is troubling, especially since Italy sits above the European average concerning the prevalence of mental disorders. Estimates suggest that about 5 million Italians are in need of mental health support but cannot afford it.

During our conversation, my friend shared that, previously, he was the sole therapist serving a population of over 200,000 across four districts in Sicily. This workload prompted him to initiate group therapy sessions. For most of his professional journey, he managed a caseload of more than 150 clients with only eight participating in group settings. Despite the recent government announcements regarding the expansion of psychological services, the tangible benefits to the wider populace remain uncertain.

My friend Giuseppe from Calabria expresses that relying on an AI therapist has been liberating. “I can share everything without fear,” he reflects. His past experiences with real therapists were marred by anxiety stemming from the dual burden of financial strain and the stigma associated with seeking help in a tight-knit community. “Now, I can express myself freely without concern for judgment.”

Conversations with my friends have convinced me that AI therapy could offer a transformative solution in countries like Italy, where stigma around mental health still prevails. I asked Giuseppe if being queer influenced his trust issues with local therapists, to which he affirmed. “I’m not out to my family, so, even with a therapist’s confidentiality, trusting someone who shares my community is tough,” he admitted. Nevertheless, he found solace in his AI therapist, which allowed him to explore issues he had never previously addressed. “At 43, I still live with my parents due to my finances. My AI therapist is always available, calm, and supportive, which has helped me significantly in evaluating my life and planning for a better future.”

Of course, older generations may not grasp this phenomenon. In a tradition-rich country like Italy, shifts in perceptions can be met with resistance. Ethical concerns are valid: gauging the quality of “relationships” between vulnerable individuals and their AI therapists is a complex task.

Yet, in an era when our emotional landscapes are often monetized, the allure of free, innovative, and perpetual support is hard to resist. Until mental health services become universally accessible, AI therapy might just be the most viable option for many.

• Viola di Grado is an Italian author

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