Minsa and UTP address university students' deteriorating mental health

Panama's Ministry of Health (Minsa) and the Technological University of Panama (UTP) have joined forces to tackle the escalating mental health challenges facing young university students. They recently organized the first Forum on Mental Health and Higher Education, a platform designed for students, faculty, and administrators to discuss the critical importance of emotional well-being.

Yareth Sánchez, a university student, underscored the fundamental role of mental health in overall human well-being. "The foundation of mental health helps us, as it is one of the symbols of human health itself," Sánchez stated. "Because we have physical health, but without mental health, the physical really doesn't make much sense, so I would say it's very important."

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The foundation of mental health helps us, as it is one of the symbols of human health itself. Because we have physical health, but without mental health, the physical really doesn't make much sense, so I would say it's very important.

UTP Rector Ángela Laguna Caicedo stressed the impact of mental health issues on academic performance. "For us to be able to meet our learning objectives, we need healthy people, physically and mentally," she said. Caicedo emphasized the need for educational systems to address these problems proactively and for institutions to contribute to solutions.

Fernando Boyd Galindo, the Minister of Health, voiced significant concern over the rise in suicide attempts among adolescents. He noted that Minsa recently inaugurated a new hospital wing at San Miguel Arcángel Hospital, tripling the capacity for mental health patients. The forum aligns with the government's goal to encourage individuals experiencing mental health difficulties to seek necessary help.

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For us to be able to meet our learning objectives, we need healthy people, physically and mentally. Thus, there will be many participations, considering how the educational system should address solutions and our participation to contribute to the solution of these types of problems.