On World Mental Health Day 2024, October 10, themed "Mental Health at Work", the World Health Organization (WHO) is highlighting the vital connection between mental health and the workplace. Educational institutions are the workplace of students, where mental health is just as crucial. That is where the BeWell-Iscte project, led by CIS-Iscte researcher Sibila Marques, aims to make a difference at Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa.
The BeWell-Iscte project focuses on promoting mental health and well-being among students, following a stepped care model similar to the ACCES (Accessability, Cooperation and Connections for the Promotion of Mental Health in Higher Education) Program for mental health in higher education. The initiative, that involves several professors and researchers from Iscte, seeks to improve mental health literacy, resilience, and stress management through preventive and promotional activities. It also enhances early intervention for common mental disorders and strengthens support for those at risk of more severe conditions.
In alignment with WHO’s call for collective action, BeWell-Iscte emphasizes the involvement of the university’s student association and prioritizes inclusion, supporting vulnerable groups such as displaced students, international students, and LGBTQIA+ students.
In addition, to mark this date, Iscte also launched a "Mental Health Ambassadors Program" in collaboration with its student association, a peer-to-peer support group aimed at sharing experiences while promoting mental well-being and raising awareness for mental health in general.
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