The stigma associated with mental health is still one of the biggest mental health challenges, as emphasised by Miguel Telo de Arriaga, a professor at the Faculty of Human Sciences, on MindCast, Católica's mental health podcast. To tackle this problem, students, professors and staff at Universidade Católica Portuguesa joined in various awareness-raising initiatives on 10 October.

At Católica's headquarters in Lisbon, Mental Health Day was marked with an awareness campaign aimed at the academic community, coordinated by the Social Responsibility Office. In collaboration with the Mental Health Service Team, this action included the Marketing Club, the Law Academic Association, the Psychology Student Centre and a few Psychology students.

At the same time, at the Porto Regional Centre, the highlight was the promotion of the services available at the Students and Employability Office, as well as the launch of the Psychologist Voucher measure. The Viseu Campus also took the opportunity to raise awareness among students about the Cheque-Psychologist Programme, highlighting the importance of this new support measure for mental health and well-being. The Braga Regional Centre also publicised this important date.

Among the measures announced is the ‘Psychologist and Nutritionist Voucher’, a new measure from the Ministry of Youth and Modernisation and the Ministry of Education. Designed to facilitate access to these services for students at Portuguese higher education institutions, the voucher aims to promote mental health and well-being, development and adaptation in situations with a potential impact on academic life.

This initiative, which complements existing services at the University, such as mental health appointments, contributes to a more effective and productive learning environment, where students can concentrate on their academic activities without the burden of emotional stress.

Rita Paiva e Pona, the Rectors' Advisor for Social Responsibility, emphasises that “UCP's mental health consultations are intended to be, above all, a space of proximity and care, responding in a welcoming way to issues related to emotional challenges such as anxiety, depression, stress, among others”.

Created by the World Federation for Mental Health, World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness and mobilise efforts to support mental health.