Mexico City, February 16, 2023.—Caring for the mental health of its university community is a priority for the Universidad Panamericana, which is why Ciudad Panamericana launched the Clinical Psychology Unit and the University Center for Health and Well-being (CUSAB).
Mental Health in the Pan-American Community
Representing our university at the event were Dr. Stephanie Derive, director of the Faculty of Health Sciences; Ms. Cecilia Canal, Vice Rector; Ms. María Isabel Gutiérrez Peláez, Director of the School of Psychology; Ms. Tania Martínez, Director of the Clinical Psychology Unit; and Dr. Mariana Azcárraga, Director of CUSAB.
Post-pandemic repercussions
When she took the floor, Ms. Gutiérrez Peláez reflected on the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent impact, noting that“it had very severe repercussions; 30% of the population was affected by depression and anxiety. The most affected group was those aged 20 to 21, especially young people; it was a huge emotional shock.”
He also encouraged the students present to share this information with their classmates, as a way to support one another: “If we’re not feeling well, we should ask for help—it’s okay to do so.”
To which Tania Martínez added: “After weathering a pandemic, the emotional toll is becoming evident, and Panamericana is always committed to providing safe spaces to support the community.”
Timely care
Ms. Martínez also noted that the Clinical Psychology unit, which began operations at the Mexico City campus nearly six years ago, “has grown significantly, enabling it to provide timely care and intervention on mental health issues to the university community, faculty, and staff at the Universidad Panamericana.”
“In that regard, we have treated approximately 1,400 patients, 70% of whom are from the UP community, with the remainder being external patients who come to the clinic on referral. Our primary commitments to our patients are empathy, confidentiality, and professional ethics, ” he noted.
He also emphasized that “the purpose of this in-person service is to provide students and staff with a therapeutic space where they can address important emotional issues with the support of a healthcare professional.”
For her part, Dr. Azcárraga stated that: “A key area of mental health care is prevention, which aims to ensure that healthy individuals do not develop mental disorders.”
He added that, to achieve this goal, in 2017 the Panamericana University opened the University Center for Health and Well-being (CUSAB) in Mixcoac and that, since its founding, it has worked in collaboration with the Clinical Psychology Unit.
Come visit UPC and CUSAB!
In Ciudad Panamericana, services at both centers will be provided by Pamela Ruiz de Chávez, who will work in coordination with staff from the UPC and CUSAB in Mixcoac.
To improve your quality of life, it’s important to take care of your mental health. For more information, please visit the Clinical Psychology Unit:
WhatsApp at +52 55 7992 2313
