Higher education students will be able to access psychological and nutritional counselling from September 30 as part of a programme covering public and private institutions, the youth minister told Luse today.
“Request [de consulta] This is done on the Gov.pt website, which will be launched on September 30,” said Margarida Balseiro Lopes on the day the measure will be formalized in two protocols, at the direction of nutritionists and psychologists.
According to the Minister of Youth and Modernization, all universities have joined the initiative, and for this purpose checks will be issued depending on the number of students.
“Students can choose the specialist they want to make an appointment with from the list provided by the order,” the official emphasized.
“Currently, the list of professionals who have joined includes 297 psychologists and 208 nutritionists,” added Margarida Balseiro Lopes, stressing that the orders were aimed at ensuring “full territorial coverage” to cover the mainland and the islands.
The program is managed through a platform that is accessible to educational institutions.
Margarida Balseiro Lopes highlighted that since the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for psychological consultations has increased by 50%, with anxiety being the most common mental health problem among young people.
Regarding nutrition, the minister cited a study that showed that there are currently only five nutritionists in all Portuguese higher education institutions.
The measure, formalised today with the signing of two protocols, will require expenditure of €2,250,000 in 2024 and around €5.6 million in 2025.
“At the end of the first semester, we will make adjustments depending on demand,” he noted.
In the current academic year (2024-2025), 100,000 psychology consultations and 50,000 nutrition consultations will be conducted.
The signing of the protocols at a ceremony chaired by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro followed the approval of the measures in May by the Council of Ministers dedicated to youth.
Psychologist and dietitian checks are presented as a ‘complementary answer’ to the SNS responses.