Universities committed to well-being

Supporting students beyond academic learning is now a shared priority for the Catalan university system. Universities are spaces of knowledge, but also of emotions, life challenges, and community life; therefore, more and more institutions are placing psychological and emotional well-being at the heart of their educational activities. All Catalan universities offer free and confidential psychological support services for students, providing emotional support, guidance, and brief intervention in situations of distress, stress, anxiety, or personal difficulties. These services, staffed by teams of professional psychologists, work in a coordinated manner to ensure a rapid and accessible response. In recent years, the Department of Research and Universities has promoted a review and strengthening of these services to ensure consistent, high-quality coverage throughout the university system.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy that recognizes mental health as an essential component of academic achievement, inclusion, and quality of opportunity.

Guide for addressing suicide

To reinforce this commitment, the Department of Research and Universities, in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Inter-University Council of Catalonia, prepared the Guide for addressing suicidal behavior in Catalan universitiesThe document offers protocols and practical guidelines for the detection, prevention, and intervention in cases of suicidal behavior risk, both in students and university staff. The objective is to equip centers with concrete tools to act in a coordinated and sensitive manner, ensuring appropriate support and comprehensive care.

The guide highlights the importance of training for faculty and administrative and service staff to identify warning signs and activate the appropriate resources within the university community.

#TrioLaVida Conference

This commitment to prevention is also evident in awareness initiatives such as the #TrioLaVida conferences, held annually to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day. These conferences bring together students, professionals, and institutional representatives to reflect, share experiences, and raise awareness of mental health in the university setting. Best practices, resources, and strategies are presented to make universities safer and more supportive environments.

The #TrioLaVida slogan has become a collective call to choose life, communication, and support, and is part of a broader awareness campaign promoted by the government and the university system.

Catalan Universities Inclusion Plan (PIDUC)

The PIDUC, the Catalan Universities' Inclusion Plan, promotes an inclusive and equitable university model that guarantees access, participation, and academic success for all students, with special attention to groups that may face greater difficulties. The plan establishes lines of action to improve support for diversity, foster emotional well-being, and eliminate physical, social, and academic barriers. It includes measures to strengthen support services for students with disabilities or specific needs, as well as to promote mental health and coexistence policies on campuses. The PIDUC aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and the vision of a fairer, more accessible university that is more attentive to the emotional realities of its community. It provides funding for emotional well-being projects.

With this same vision, the Department of Research and Universities is promoting a grant program to fund emotional well-being projects within universities. The projects, developed by the university communities themselves, include awareness campaigns, support and prevention programs, emotional skills workshops, and inclusion initiatives. This funding allows for the continuation of existing projects and the promotion of new, innovative proposals to foster healthier university environments that are more aware of their emotional impact. The US.cat network

The US.cat network (Healthy Universities of Catalonia) brings together all Catalan universities with the aim of coordinating efforts and sharing best practices in promoting health and well-being. Through this network, universities work together to foster healthy habits, prevent mental health problems, and promote mutual support among students, faculty, and staff. Collaboration between institutions allows them to pool resources, generate synergies, and move towards a more sustainable and humane university culture.