Trieste Mental Health Model: Summary and Considerations for International Application

Trieste Mental Health Model: Summary and Considerations for International Application

Warwick Medical School

David Iseghohi

2025

Domenico Giacco and Rahul Bhattacharya

The Trieste model, eponymous with the Italian city, is founded on a community-oriented approach aimed at preserving human rights by replacing institutional psychiatry with comprehensive, decentralized care (Mezzina, 2014). The approach, introduced by psychiatrist Franco Basaglia, opposes the idea that mental illness is lifelong. Instead, it highlights the importance of social inclusion and greater access to work, housing, and civic life (Portacolone et al., 2015). In 1978, with the passing of Law 180, this vision was codified in law, leading to the closure of psychiatric hospitals and the development of local community services in their place (Badano, 2024). Features of the model include 24/7 community mental health centres, open-door policies, and strong links with social services (Mezzina, 2014). Since its inception, other places globally, such as San Francisco and Birmingham, have attempted to employ a similar model. This essay explores these attempts, their challenges, and what can be done to overcome them.