Corporate welfare against eating disorders: psychological support for employees
Raising awareness, informing, and providing concrete support—above all, putting the physical and mental well-being of employees at the center, identifying issues that can cause distress or even develop into full-fledged disorders. This is the goal behind Mediobanca’s series of initiatives dedicated to mental health, and in particular to eating disorders (EDs).
“This project is part of the #TakeCare program, designed to support people’s well-being,” explains Simona Pirro from the DE&I, Employee Engagement and Internal Communication team. “Within this program, we run a series of communication and awareness initiatives covering physical and psychological well-being from every angle. Our interest in eating disorders arose within this framework.”
The awareness campaign targeting employees was launched on March 15, coinciding with the National Day of the Lilac Ribbon, observed annually since 2012. Schools, associations, local authorities, and companies like Mediobanca join forces to shed light on this still-too-often invisible issue.
“This philosophy has always been part of our group’s DNA,” adds Olimpia Di Venuta, head of DE&I, Employee Engagement and Internal Communication. “It received a further boost in March 2022 with the launch of the toDEI project, aimed at creating an increasingly inclusive work environment. In this context, it became clear that we needed to pay more attention to topics closely linked to the real needs of people. Many of the initiatives we promote actually arise from employee suggestions and requests. Eating disorders were one such topic, raised during informal discussions: many wanted to understand the issue better, both for their children and for themselves. This is not just an adolescent issue. Increasingly, adults and parents are directly affected, often unsure how to cope. Our goal is to break the silence, provide support, and normalize dialogue on topics that profoundly affect many lives.”
The awareness campaign was developed in collaboration with Animenta APS, a nonprofit founded by Aurora Caporossi, who experienced an eating disorder firsthand and transformed her experience into a social impact project. The initiative, designed to help employees recognize signs of EDs within their teams, was followed on May 14 by the live event “I See You: What Lies Behind an Eating Disorder” at the Teatro Filodrammatici in Milan.
“Over 150 participants—including employees, family members, and external guests—attended this intense and engaging event organized with Animenta,” explains Pirro. “Among the most moving contributions was Jolanda Renga’s testimony, daughter of Ambra Angiolini and an activist on the topic, sharing her family’s experience with EDs. Alongside Animenta and her mother Ambra, who has long collaborated with Animenta to reshape the narrative on EDs, Jolanda Renga developed the campaign ‘It’s Not Food That’s My Eating Disorder,’ which formed the basis for the Teatro Filodrammatici event.” The evening also included a panel discussion with Animenta’s founder, writer Matteo Bussola—author of the novel La neve in fondo al mare (Einaudi 2024), which addresses eating disorders—and psychiatrist and nutritionist Stefano Erzegovesi.
Mediobanca’s commitment does not stop there. Starting in the fall, the group will launch a partnership with Comestai, Animenta’s spin-off that provides companies with services to digitally improve access to ED treatments. The goal is to offer employees support groups, counseling, and practical tools for addressing EDs, both personally and within families. In line with this effort, the collaboration with Unobravo, an online psychological support center, continues. “Employees will have access to three sessions with a psychologist,” notes Di Venuta. “Discussions with Unobravo staff highlighted that eating disorders are among the main areas for those beginning psychological support—a clear signal of the relevance and urgency of the issue, even in professional contexts.”
This initiative is part of the toDEI journey to foster more inclusive workplaces—a project born from listening to employees and evolving through their input. It demonstrates that even a bank can—and should—serve as a pillar of health, empathy, and social responsibility.