Undergraduate and graduate students of Cidade Universitária can participate in group activities for mental health care. Registration for psychotherapy and reflection groups for anxiety is open until March 17th.
Dean of Student Affairs Albert Schiaffeto de Souza says UFMS has been increasingly concerned about students’ mental health. Care was even more necessary after the pandemic period. “There has been an aggravation, we have noticed psychological suffering from our students, such as anxiety attacks, depression and difficulties related to activities. The university has a team of professionals on campus and at Cidade Universitária to pay special attention “, he explains.
In addition to group activities, UFMS offers one-on-one assistance at Cidade Universitária and the university campus.
The service provided by the university aims to welcome students and make referrals when necessary. “The idea is to give our student an initial welcome. We analyze his condition and what kind of suffering he has and make a referral to him. […] We’re doing brief therapy, and there are a few sessions for the initial reception,” says the university’s president.
To facilitate the university community’s access to information, the university has created Mental Health at UFMS. The page, which was developed by a panel of health professionals from the various units, contains details on available assistance services and guidelines for emergencies.
Mental health care groups
Group activities are a tool used by psychology whose aim is to help students in their daily difficulties, whether they are related to academic life or not. The psychotherapy group will hold meetings with the aim of reflecting on daily life, sharing experiences, improving students’ communication skills, dealing with conflicts, and also promoting personal growth. The Anxiety Reflection Group also aims to share experiences, as well as work on topics to help deal with anxiety. “I hope that the groups can collaborate with the university life of the students and also with their personal training, developing skills and abilities to deal with the difficulties they face in all dimensions of their lives,” says the group coordinator, Fabio Barbosa.
For the moderator, group sharing allows people to get to know each other when experiencing similar experiences. “[Há] Realizing that you are not alone. Established personal relationships can be both a support and a relief factor,” he says.
Group help differs from individual help, but both methods are used to address similar situations. By offering both methods, the university can cover the scenarios submitted by the students.
Those interested must participate in a psychotherapy group Fill out the form Confirmation awaits the first meeting, which will take place on March 20. Meetings will always take place on Mondays, from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Students who wish to join the anxiety reflective group must complete Application form. Meetings are scheduled for March 22 and 29 and April 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Both will take place in the group activities room of the Student Health Care Department (Sease), in the central corridor, at Cidade Universitária.
Individual consulting
The university also offers individual assistance. Consisting of three sessions, the focus is on working on issues submitted by students. Counseling is carried out by a team of psychologists from Sise at Cidade Universitária and a team of psychologists from Student Affairs Support Units on campus. For cases requiring prolonged follow-up, referral is made.
“When a referral is necessary, the possibilities that exist in the municipality of the campus where he is located are discussed between the psychologist and the student. These referrals can be for services located at the university, such as school clinics, social service assistance and also for external services such as psychosocial support centers and health plans, Says the Minister of Health Care for Students, Ana Lucia Martins de Souza.
The Coxim, Navirai, Nova Andradina and Punta Bora campuses do not have a psychology service. In these cases, the student should seek the campus social service to receive guidance on how to obtain psychiatric care. After completing the form, students will be called in order of priority and pro schedule availability. Register here.
Text: Milena Rocha
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