The experience of emergency psychologists at the Covid-19 toll-free number of Regione Lazio during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

ABSTRACT

In this article, the authors aim to describe the Covid-19 toll-free psychological helpline activated by Azienda Regionale Ares 118 during the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus emergency. The article highlights the peculiarity of Ares 118's choice to structure the service by exclusively engaging qualified psychologists belonging to Lazio's main associations of emergency psychology, making them work in close collaboration with the medical staff of the same toll-free number. The article is the result of what has been observed in the first three months since the activation of the service and contains, in addition to the summary of the types of requests received, the strengths and needed improvements of what can be considered an innovative and functioning model that provides concrete and useful responses to citizens during the emergency. In this article it has not been possible to process the statistical data collected, as the service is still active and the data collection is ongoing. The final considerations provide possible scenarios of integrated psychology services in the context of regional or national health systems, paving the way for what could be a constant and consolidated reality.