GET UP AND GET BETTER

"Muntain Therapy" was first discussed in a magazine article marginally associated with a conference held at Pinzolo (TN) in September 1999, dedicated to "Mountains and Solidarity" (c.f. "Famiglia Cristiana", no. 44/'99). It was the "invention" of the psychologist and Alpinist, Giulio Scoppola, of the Rome Local Health Authority. Together with some of his colleagues, he proposed the following definition of the discipline: "An original, methodological approach, with a therapeutic/rehabilitative and/or socio-educational function, design as a secondary means of prevention, and for the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals suffering from a variety of problems, pathologies or disabilities. It is designed to function by means of a system of group dynamics, within the cultural, natural, and artificial context of the mountains."
In other words, the mountains can be considered as an effective instrument of healing, not just for those suffering from respiratory, cardio-vascular or metabolic conditions, but also for individuals affected by anxiety or depression, psychosis, autism, schizophrenia, and other personality disorders. These subjects are put into group projects which involve performing certain activities at high levels. They are required to test themselves by taking forms of exercise up the mountainside (hiking, skiing, climbing, etc), involving exertion and orienteering, and requiring them to work within the limits imposed by the weather and the environment. The objective is to reach a certain destination, while taking responsibility for yourself and the others in the group. An additional function is to acquire new forms of knowledge while working within a system. These individuals are placed in contact with a reality which is totally unfamiliar to them and which, more importantly, is completely outside the usual psychiatric environment. In this way, they can become aware of their own self-worth in their relationships with others, and are motivated to explore the world and to discover both physical and spiritual aspects of themselves. Emotionally involved in the beauty of the mountain environment, they start to recover their personal human dimension, so greatly improving their quality of life.
It should be stressed, however, that this mountain therapy does not involve the suspension of any medical, social, or educational treatment already underway, but rather is intended to integrate with it.
The mountain therapy activities are practiced within the ambit of the Italian National Health Service, and by accredited health and social service organizations, and are carried out in close collaboration with the Italian Alpine Club. They have a support system of information and promotion established by their special association (the Italian Mountain Therapy Association), and their own web-site: www.montagnaterapia.it. There is also the site for Sopraimille (www.sopraimille.it) whose activity leader is the psychiatrist Sandro Carpineta of the Arco Mental Health Centre (TN). Amongst future objectives is that of organizing a growing network of activity groups throughout Italy, and of developing the functions of a system of National Coordination, as a real meeting-place for comparing varying experiences.
We hope, therefore, that this recognition of the transformative power of the mountains will bring further beneficial results to everyone. Our starting point is the knowledge that up there in the mountains all differences disappear, you share experiences and you help each other, you regain faith in yourself, in your abilities, and in others. Never has "going up" had such symbolic value as in this context.