Psychologists ask to strengthen teams in primary health to serve students

For Ordem dos Psicólogos, it is not enough to implement measures within school walls to support students; ‘Out of school’ measures are also needed.

The OPP stance comes after the publication of this year’s study in Portuguese schools, which revealed that one in three students shows signs of stress.

We need an integrated work with the different sectors of society. Schools are, at the moment, unable to refer children and young people who need medical and health intervention to health centers because they do not have the capacity to respond. They do not have psychologists to respond to these needs,” warns Sophia Ramalho, vice president of the organization.

Therefore, the OPP argues that it is necessary to reduce barriers to accessing mental health care, by strengthening psychologists in primary health care.

While presenting the results of the “School Observatory: Monitoring and Action | Health and Psychological Care”, the Minister of Education, Joao Costa, ensured that Portuguese schools meet the school-to-student psychologists ratio.

Sophia Ramalho notes that the work of school psychologists has been “tireless”, but states that “the needs of individual intervention, which are increasingly necessary and urgent, do not allow the prevention and reinforcement work of the whole school, which is also necessary”.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted pre-existing inequalities and growing risk factors for the healthy growth and well-being of children and youth. The Ministry of Education requested for the first time a study to understand what is happening in schools.

The researchers found that about a third of the students show signs of psychological distress and a lack of emotional skills that require attention, and that half of the teachers show signs of psychological distress.

In light of this scenario, it is considered “urgent” for children and youth to be priority targets for intervention, specifically by preventing and combating inequality and promoting mental health and well-being.

The OPP also calls for intervention with families, with programs to enhance parenting or other skills, and to promote mental health in the context of family work, while implementing policies and practices that balance personal and professional life as ‘friends of the family’. family.”

The study, coordinated by Margarida Gaspar de Matos, of the University of Lisbon’s Social Adventure Team, makes several recommendations, such as strengthening literacy and individual skills and competencies, which are social and emotional skills.

The OPP supports this measure, but states that strengthening these skills “means an increase in the number and continuity of work of psychologists who are in schools.”

João Costa has announced contract renewals that have allowed the hiring of about 1,100 school professionals, about 70% of whom are psychologists, for personal, social and community development plans.