The opposition wants more psychologists and mental health services in schools and universities.

PCP, Livre, PAN and Chega defended this Thursday increased support for mental health in schools and universities, with PS saying the government’s higher education prevention plan will be unveiled in May.

Positions were expressed during parliamentary debates during which four party bills were presented to provide mental health services at various levels of education, including strengthening psychologists for public schools and institutions of higher education.

Presenting his diploma, PCP MP Manuel Loff emphasized that, according to international recommendations, the ratio in the context of the school should not exceed 500 students per psychologist, and in Portugal it is 694 students, “40% more than recommended.”

In addition to strengthening these professionals in public schools, the PCP bill aims to “restore the psychologist’s career in the Department of Education,” Manuel Loff added.

Livre’s sole deputy, Ruy Tavares, said his bill is intended to “clearly address the state’s obligations” in this matter, specifying that institutions of higher learning must provide mental health services to students, arguing that “it is necessary to prevent, not cure.”

PAN’s Inés de Souza Real warned that in the case of universities, “48% of students have serious psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and loss of control,” adding that her legislative initiative aims to create a network of services. psychology in public schools and institutions of higher education; and a telephone support line in institutions of higher education.

According to Chega, Rita Matias stressed that the party intends to increase access to psychological services and school guidance for primary and secondary students, saying that “half of mental illness occurs between the ages of 10 and 19” and that the rate in schools is “more than a thousand students to one psychologist”, a situation that is “more worrisome in the most needy contexts”.

“I have never seen such a serious mental health crisis in Portuguese schools,” said Rita Matias, for whom this situation “has a name and a responsible person – the socialist government.”

In a parliamentary debate, PS MP Rosa Venancio noted that over the past 20 years institutions have “made great efforts to ensure an adequate response to mental health problems” of students, researchers, teachers and non-teachers.

In addition, the socialist parliamentarian, who acknowledged that the needs exacerbated by the covid-19 pandemic had already been identified, said that a mental health prevention plan in higher education institutions would be presented in May and put into effect next year. academic year. .

Carla Castro of the Liberal Initiative stressed the need for “a country with a future, with hope and mental health, a tolerant and open society that generally knows how to prevent, detect rather than condemn and help heal”. .

Isabelle Pires of Bloco de Esquerda felt that the National Health Service was still far from what was needed on the matter and announced that “in general” her panel was following legislative proposals on the matter.

Dinis Ramos of the PSD parliamentary group deplored that Portugal “is the second country in the European Union” with the highest rates of mental illness among youth and adults.

“The mental health of Portuguese students is too serious a matter to live on advertising,” the Social Democracy MP said, referring to the government’s higher education program.