'Filter of fantasy': How anime is being explored as therapy for depression in Japan

Growing up in rural Sicily, psychiatrist Francesco Panto often felt out of place, finding comfort and escape in anime, where he discovered characters who reflected the kind of man he aspired to become.Now living in Japan, Panto is trying to turn that personal experience into a new form of mental health support, using anime-inspired characters and avatars to help people open up about depression, anxiety and emotional struggles."The use of manga and anime supported me so much... they were very important emotional support kind of tools," Panto told AFP."Being raised in Italy, in Sicily, there were very strong stereotypes around gender or self-expression.

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