MUR funds €1.6 million to the University of Padua for students' psychological well-being
10.01.2025
The Ministry of University and Research (MUR) has allocated funding of €1,600,000 to a partnership of universities led by the University of Padua to promote psychological well-being projects for students. The University of Padua has received €448,866, with the remaining funds distributed among the universities of Bologna, Chieti-Pescara, Catania, and Florence. This funding adds to last year's allocation, bringing the total to over €1 million.
The project, named University Students Health (UNIST – HEALTH), includes various initiatives, such as monitoring psychological well-being through an online survey. An app will also be developed to support those undergoing clinical pathways, addressing new addictions, anxiety disorders, and depression. Additionally, the role of "psychological health ambassador" will be introduced, with students/tutors promoting psychological well-being among their peers.
"This MUR funding complements the funds that our University – particularly attentive and sensitive to well-being issues – already allocates to projects aimed at protecting and supporting the psychological well-being of our students," comments Claudio Gentili, professor and director of the University Centre for Clinical Psychological Services (SCUP).
In Padua, in particular, targeted actions will be adopted to support students with stalled academic careers, that is, those who are unable to discuss their academic difficulties and who may therefore be experiencing psychological distress. Furthermore, services for international students coming from critical or emergency situations, whether caused by natural disasters or geopolitical instability, will be enhanced. The project thus foresees an increase in psychological services to address a potential rise in requests resulting from the survey.
