Pro-Ben Project: who we are

At the University of Padova, the project focuses above all on the enhancement and efficiency of the services offered by the Center for University Psychological Clinical Services (Scup).

The project is primarily aimed at students with blocked careers, or who are not completely sincere in talking about their study difficulties, and foreign students who come from countries with situations of natural or geopolitical disasters.

With a call for applications, students  are also selected to fill the position of psychological health ambassadors, who have the task of promoting psychological well-being in each School of the University and improving the flows of access to clinical services.

THE TEAM

• Claudio Gentili: he is a full professor of Clinical Psychology, he has been directing the Scup center since 2021. He is interested in the biological basis of mental disorders and psychological treatments and the effectiveness of treatments.
• Marta Ghisi: she is a full professor of Clinical Psychology and head psychologist at the University Hospital of Padova, in the Hospital Psychology Unit.
• Antonio Paoli: he is full professor of Exercise and Sport Sciences and Delegate for Wellness and Sport; he has promoted numerous initiatives for the psychological and physical well-being of the staff and the student community of the University of Padova
• Erica Gobbi: is associate professor of Exercise and Sport Sciences. His main research interests concern the promotion of physical activity in relation to health, with a particular focus on the development of inclusive practices.
• Alessio Vieno: he is full professor of Community Psychology and head of the Risk-free Well-being operational unit of the Scup Center. He deals with risky behaviors, prevention and promotion of well-being.
• Claudia Marino: she is associate professor of Community Psychology and psychotherapist. He is interested in behavioral addictions and prevention interventions.
• Sabrina Cipolletta: she is a full professor of Social Psychology, psychotherapist, directs the Psychological Support Service for international students and scholars of the Scup and the Psymed Developmental Psychology laboratory. He is interested in promoting well-being in relationships.
• Silvia Salcuni: she is associate professor in Dynamic Psychology, psychologist psychotherapist, PhD, contact person of the Psychological Assistance Service for University Students (SAP), director and supervisor of the residents in Psychotherapy of the SSUAP Life Cycle. Research interests focused on personality assessment and the effectiveness of psychotherapy.

Reference web page: 
> www.scup.unipd.it

At the University of Bologna, the project aims to strengthen the Psychological Help Service (SAP) and promote psychological well-being in the university context with a digital intervention focused on increasing psychological flexibility, a protective factor for mental health.

For students with blocked careers, or who conceal their academic status, an integrated Sap-Orientation Office support path has been designed.

The project also includes actions that enhance the aspects related to sports disciplines as a useful tool for improving psychophysical well-being.

THE TEAM

• Simona Tondelli: she is deputy vice-rector.
• Federico Condello: he is the Rector's Delegate for Students and for Institutional Communication.
• Silvana Grandi: she is full professor of Clinical Psychology, psychiatrist and psychotherapist, head of the Psychological Help Service (SAP) of the University of Bologna and Rector's delegate for University Psychological Counseling.
• Eliana Tossani: she is a full professor of Clinical Psychology and psychotherapist.
• Giulia Landi: she is a fixed-term researcher of type b (senior) in Clinical Psychology.
• Andrea Ceciliani: he is full professor in Methods and didactics of motor activities.
• Pasqualino Maietta Latessa: he is confirmed associate professor in Methods and didactics of motor activities.
• Laura Bragonzoni: she is associate professor in Methods and didactics of motor activities.
• Serena Mocci: she is research manager of the Pro-Ben Unist-Health project.
• Angelo Guerriero: he is in charge of the Student Services Area (Ases) - Orientation Sector.

Project Sheet

The Unist-Health (Pro-Ben) project at the University of Catania includes a series of actions aimed at monitoring and improving the psychological well-being of the student component of the University, including the monitoring of the well-being of the student population, the design of an app to monitor anxiety, depression and motor activity, with suggestions for psychological well-being.

Further action is the optimization of the psychological offer through the design and implementation of psychological interventions to support the most vulnerable student population; peer training is also planned for the promotion of well-being and prevention of pathological addictions through the actions of the Pyschological Health Ambassadors, and the promotion of outdoor motor activitiestogether with mindfulness sessions in the various departments and branches.

The activation of an informative psychological health camper is planned, periodically itinerant in all the different university campuses to promote psycho-physical well-being and disseminate activities for the student population.

THE TEAM

•   Marina Quattropani: Full Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapist, Scientific Director of the Project
• Santo Di Nuovo: Professor Emeritus of General Psychology, responsible for the research methodology
• Tiziana Ramaci: Full Professor of Organizational and Work Psychology, Head of Mental Health Ambassador Training
• Giuseppe Musumeci: Full Professor of Exercise and Sports Sciences, Director of the Research Center on Physical Activities, Director of the Degree Course in Exercise and Sports Sciences, Head of Physical Activities
• Concetta Pirrone: Associate Professor in General Psychology, responsible for data analysis
• Sabrina Castellano: Associate Professor in Psychometrics, Head of Assessment 
• Ignazio Alberto Barbagallo: associate professor in Biochemistry, Rector's Delegate and member of the board of directors of the University Sports Center (CUS Catania), responsible for sports activities
• Vittorio Lenzo: researcher in Dynamic Psychology and psychotherapist, responsible for high-intensity interventions
• Pasquale Caponnetto: researcher in Clinical Psychology and psychotherapist, psychologist manager at the University Hospital, responsible for pathological addiction interventions
• Alberto Sardella: researcher in Clinical Psychology and psychotherapist, responsible for data management

At the University of Chieti-Pescara, the project aims to strengthen the UniversityCounseling Service by adding skills training and brief psychotherapy to the activities already planned.

It is mainly aimed at students who have problems in managing emotions, to help them acquire and/or enhance skills such as awareness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotional regulation and tolerance of suffering.

All activities aim to promote psychological well-being and improve academic engagement understood as positive and proactive positioning in relation to the university context.

Students selected as psychological health ambassadors are active in every department of the University to promote, with easy suggestions, psychological well-being and improve the flows of access to clinical services.

THE TEAM

• Piero Porcelli: he is full professor of Clinical Psychology, psychotherapist, Delegate of the Rector at the University of Psychological Counseling.
• Maria Verrocchio: she is full professor of Clinical Psychology, psychotherapist, delegate to the activities of the Disability Service in the University
• Chiara Conti: she is an associate professor of Clinical Psychology, psychotherapist.
• Daniela Marchetti: she is an associate professor of Clinical Psychology, psychotherapist.
• Lilybeth Fontanesi: she is a type B researcher in Clinical Psychology, psychotherapist.

Reference web pages:
 > www.unich.it/didattica/servizi-studenti/servizio-di-counseling-psicologico-di-ateneo
 > dipsi.unich.it

At the University of Florence, the project focuses above all on the enhancement and efficiency of the services offered by the Center for Psychological Counseling, Psychotherapy and Clinical Psychology Services (Cecops) and Unifi Include.

At the center of the actions are above all students at risk of developing behavioral addictions (including internet-use disorders) and academic procrastination, and the support of social integration policies in order to ensure equity, gender equality and equal opportunities.

Students are selected as psychological health ambassadors to be active in each school of the University and promote psychological well-being with easy suggestions and improve the flows of access to clinical services.

THE TEAM

Silvia Casale: associate professor of Clinical Psychology, head of the Psychological-Clinical Counseling Section of Cecops. Editor-in-chief of the journal "Addictive Behaviors Reports", Associate Editor of the journal "Addictive Behaviors", he is interested in risk factors and the development of interventions for the prevention and treatment of new forms of addiction.

Maria Paola Monaco: associate professor of Labour Law, rector's delegate for Inclusion and Diversity, she has promoted numerous initiatives for the strengthening of inclusion policies and for the psycho-physical well-being of students and staff of the University of Florence.

Barbara Giangrasso: associate professor of Clinical Psychology, president of Cecops, she is interested in the development of individual and group interventions for the promotion of psychological well-being.

Caterina Primi: full professor of Psychometrics, president of the School of Psychology of the University of Florence, she is interested in risk factors and tools and techniques for verifying interventions to prevent new forms of addiction.

Maria Anna Donati: researcher (RTD type b) of Psychometrics, she is interested in risk factors and tools and techniques for the verification of interventions to prevent new forms of addiction.

Giulia Fioravanti: associate professor of Clinical Psychology, member of Cecops, she is interested in risk factors and the development of prevention and treatment interventions for new forms of addiction.

Alessio Gori: associate professor of Dynamic Psychology, member of Cecops, he is interested in risk factors and the development of prevention and treatment interventions for new forms of addiction.

Camilla Matera: associate professor of Social Psychology, member of Cecops, she is interested in protective factors of psychological well-being and prevention of risky behaviors.

Annalaura Nocentini: associate professor of Developmental Psychology, member of Cecops, she is interested in risk factors and the development and evaluation of interventions to prevent risky behaviors in the life cycle.