Mexico City, May 13, 2024.— The Clinical Psychology Unit (UPC) of the Universidad Panamericana is celebrating its 7th anniversary this year. Founded in 2017, this unit was established with the support of our experts from the School of Psychology to address the mental health needs of the university community.
“We’re so happy to celebrate each passing year and to see that we can help—that we can do our small part to make a difference in someone’s life, ”says Tania Eugenia Martínez Lizárraga, director of the UPC.
She explains that the UPC offers psychological, couples, and family therapy, as well as psychiatric care. It currently has 22 therapists, two psychiatrists, two couples and family therapists, and two neuropsychologists who conduct assessments related to concentration, impulsivity, and memory.
“We have individual therapists who use different approaches: cognitive-behavioral therapy, integrative therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and systemic therapy, which addresses issues related to couples and families,” says the director.
Close Relationship with UP Students
Tania points out that the existence of the Psychology Unit at the University of the Andes ( Universidad Panamericana ) gives our university a significant advantage over other institutions, as it allows for a more direct approach to the emotional needs of the university community.
This is because, since it is not a separate center from the university, it facilitates the prevention and management of various student well-being issues, such as family problems, thoughts of death, and academic difficulties.
“(…) having a Clinical Psychology Unit and being able tosupport students who need it can helpthem prevent academic failure or poor performance caused by psychological issues.”
A Place for Everyone
However, the UPC also serves the general public outside the Pan-American Highway, offering services ranging from evaluations to emotional therapy for children and adults. In addition, Tania explains that since she took over as director of the UPC, her focus has been on providing people with a safe space where they feel supported by healthcare professionals.
That is why he has made it his mission to carefully select his team, and has succeeded in bringing together the right people to provide multidisciplinary care and thus be able to address all the needs that come to the clinic. The goal is to provide care to the community as promptly as possible. As he explains,“When someone seeks help, it’s usually because they already need it.”
She adds: “(…) we never judge our patients; we support them in whatever way they need, always guided by professional ethics. We treat everything discussed in session with the utmost respect and confidentiality (…)”.
A New Awareness of Mental Health
The Pan American Health Organizationnotes that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide.
“We saw this reflected in our community; people had kept a lot bottled up during the lockdown, and when we were able to reopen the clinic and offer these spaces, people started coming to us because they needed to talk about what they’d been through and everything that had come up during the pandemic,” Tania confirms.
He also suggests that the increase is related to the fact that, these days, there is a new awareness of the importance of mental health: “(…) it is no longer seen as a stigma or something bad, but rather as a form of self-care. People are eager to feel better and to be well.”
Tania also shares a key message: “If you’re not in good physical and mental health, it’s hard to achieve your goals.”
Are you interested in visiting the Clinical Psychology Unit? You can emailmx_psicologiaclinica@up.edu.mx and find more information at: https://www.up.edu.mx/vida-panamericana-unidad-de-psicologia-clinica/
