Simone Cristicchi and the monologue on mental illness at the presentation of Eleonora Daniele’s book ‘But are we all crazy? – Stories of mentally ill people, their families and a system that stood by today in Rome and of which the Roman singer-songwriter signs the preface.
“The topic of mental health touches me a lot because as a child and as a young man I myself risked slipping into mental illness. When my father died I was only 10 years old. At that moment I had a long period of silence, of closure, I drew in a compulsive way, but in that case art, creativity allowed me to then transform that wound, that closure into an opening to the world”, explains the singer-songwriter to Adnkronos Salute.
After that loss “there were other episodes that brought me closer to the so-called mentally ill – says Cristicchi – In my own neighborhood there were some with whom I related, I was fascinated by these figures. Then many years later I then visited for first time in a former mental hospital in Calabria. I was so impressed that from that experience I then produced a documentary with the testimonies of hundreds of nurses who worked in psychiatric institutions and also former patients”. In 2007 he took to the Sanremo stage, winning the Sanremo Fesival with the song ‘Ti regalerò una rosa’ about the tea of psychiatric hospitals. “Since then a lot has changed – explains the artist – there was like an explosion around the theme, unfortunately still a taboo today. But to eradicate the virus of indifference, art is a very powerful tool, especially song it is a weapon to be able to convey very powerful messages. Art can make itself available for social causes.”
Finally, on the psychological distress that particularly affects young people. “According to the latest statistics I have read, the consumption of antidepressants among young people is increasing. A dramatic alarm which the institutions, those who govern us and beyond, should also question themselves. We must understand what the causes are that lead young people to depression today. Obviously I can’t give you an answer, but I think this society of appearances contributes in part to this, which leads you to seek external consensus, the consensus of others at all costs.”