The Cycle of Training and Reflection on Mental Health First Aid is happening at the University of Évora
On 19 March, the Cycle on Training and Reflection on Mental Health First Aid was launched as part of the Vagar(mente) project. The initiative is organised by the CHRC/ESDH/ESESJD team — Adelinda Candeias, Fátima Marques, Tiago Mendes, Sandra Pais, and Andreia Rodrigues — with the main goal of empowering the academic community to provide mental health first aid, while raising awareness and encouraging reflection on this crucial topic.
The first two sessions took place on 19 and 26 March and saw strong participation, with 185 attendees at each event. The opening session featured Ana Matos Pires, Regional Coordinator for Mental Health at ARS Alentejo and Director of the Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry at ULS Baixo Alentejo. The second session was led by Artur Mendes, Nurse Manager of the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at ULS Alentejo Central.
The cycle will continue with five further sessions scheduled until November 2025, each focusing on a specific aspect of mental health:
- 21 May – Prof. Ana Advinha: Medication Use
- 24 September – Prof. Sandra Pais & Andreia Rodrigues: Sociocultural Context, Stigma and Community
- 22 October – Prof. Vítor Ramos: Mental Health as a Right for All
- 5 November – Prof. Tiago Mendes: Health Accessibility: Referral Criteria and Support Resources at the University and in the City of Évora
- 19 November – Prof. Adelinda Candeias, Prof. Fátima Marques, and Dr Suzete Rico: Case Study Discussion
This training cycle aims to create a more informed, supportive, and responsive academic community by enhancing mental health literacy and promoting early intervention and inclusion. It reflects the University of Évora’s and CHRC ongoing commitment to fostering a healthier and more compassionate university environment.
This initiative is open to the public and with free access, but the registrations are mandatory: https://survey.uevora.pt/index.php/866635?lang=pt