PsiCA provides specialized psychology services to students, teaching staff, and non-teaching staff at the faculties in the Campo Alegre campus.
The psychological appointment is free for SASUP scholarship students and students awaiting a decision on their SASUP scholarship.
For other students it costs 2.5 euros.
Responsibilities
Psychological intervention in the context of Higher Education
Counselling
Individual and group psychology consultation
Brief psychotherapy
Psychoeducational activities
Mental health awareness talks
Workshops (Prevention of anxiety and depression, Mindfulness...)
udden anxiety crisis, with intense fear and discomfort
With a short time span
There are usually physical symptoms (palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath...) and thoughts associated with the fear of losing control,
going mad or dying.
Seek Professional Help
When anxiety is extreme, frequent and interferes with everyday life, it's necessary to seek specialized help (psychologist/psychiatrist)
In an acute anxiety situation where you can't calm down, call the SNS 24 Psychological Counselling Service (808 24 24 24) or ask
someone you trust to take you to the Emergency Room of a Central Hospital
In case of emergency, call 112.
At the Psychologist's...
It's a safe, judgement-free and confidential space where you can talk about your difficulties and problems.
A psychologist can help you make sense of your current situation, understand your anxiety, and manage it better
Self-regulation strategies
(in addition to psychological/psychiatric treatment)
Seek Professional Help
Some depressive symptoms (discouragement, fatigue...) can manifest themselves, alone or together, for a short period,
without constituting depression.
If they persist, affecting your daily activities, t will be essential to seek a specialist (psychologist, psychiatrist)
In a crisis situation(*) call SNS 24 Psychological Counselling Service (808 24 24 24) or ask someone you trust to take
you to the Emergency Room of a Central Hospital
In case of emergency call 112
( * ) Eg: severe distress, suicidal ideation, desire to harm yourself or others.
At the Psychologist's...
We can share our experiences in a safe and confidential space and come to a better understanding of what is happening to us.
People with depression tend to have a very negative view of themselves and the world and feel that there is nothing they can do to change their current situation.
A psychologist can help you manage your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, by finding solutions and alternatives to your problems
Self-regulation strategies
(in addition to psychological/psychiatric treatment)
Suicidal intentions
Thoughts, fantasies, and worries about death and ending one's own life.
They can range from abstract thoughts about wanting to be dead to thoughts about methods and plans to carry it out.
Self-harming behaviour
Behaviours with no suicidal intent but involving intentional self-harm.
If you have suicidal intentions or self-harming behaviour
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO SEEK HELP!
SNS 24 NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE | Call 808 24 24 24 Counselling in a crisis situation with a health technician and referral 24h / day
NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL NUMBER | Call 112 Assistance in emergency situations. If you are in danger, feel that you cannot control
your impulses or seriously think about hurting yourself or ending your life call 112 immediately.
Myths about suicide
If someone talks about suicide, they're not going to go through with it and just want to attract attention
This is a sign that the person is in great pain. We should take it seriously,
try to empathise and encourage them to seek help. Many people who commit suicide had shared their feelings, thoughts or plans about suicide before.
Suicidal people really want to die and can't be helped
Many don't really want to die, but instead want to end their suffering and the way they experience life.
Death may seem the only way out, but there are ways we can help them manage their suffering and change certain aspects of their current experience.
Talking about suicide encourages suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts
It doesn't encourage or "give ideas" to the person. On the contrary, it can alleviate
distress and help the person feel understood and seek help more easily.
How to help others
igns that can alert you to a high RISK situation
Talking about wishing to die, committing suicide, disappearing, being "a burden"
Isolating or abandoning usual activities
Self-harming behaviour, excessive consumption of alcohol/drugs
Discussing ways to kill yourself or finding ways to do it
Take the warning signs seriously and encourage the person to seek professional help from a psychologist or a psychiatrist/family doctor.
Start a conversation on the subject by asking the person directly f they are thinking about dying or committing suicide.
Listen actively and without judging. Allow the person enough room to speak up.
Show concern and support, emphasising that the person is not alone and that there are ways to be helped.
Name services that provide psychological or psychiatric support (helplines, PsiCA, SASUP...)
Involve other friends or family members.
If you don't feel up to it or have doubts about how you should act, seek the help of a psychologist.
Help them call a crisis/emergency line or accompany them to the emergency room of a central hospital.
When someone has suicidal ideas, they often ask you not to reveal this information to anyone. Loyalty is important, but the value of life surpasses it
If you find there is a risk to their life, you should alert people you trust: crisis/emergency line technicians, close family members, health professionals (e.g., psychologist, psychiatrist)
who are supporting the person, the faculty management, etc.
