I think a lot of mistrust comes down to an "us" vs. "them" mentality that forms in societies which are segmented or where resources are scarce. The most straightforward ways to remedy those situations are the redistribution of wealth or an increase in total wealth, respectively. But how do either of those happen in the country the size of Italy? Maybe you need a shock to the system to kick a sick society out of it's negative spiral, as you put it. The world wars acted as one for much of Europe. Maybe climate change can be the next one.