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UNAM Launches University-Wide Mental Health Program, Reaffirms IMSS Agreement

The initiative prioritizes high-school students, establishing a stepped route from screening to specialist referral.

Overview

  • UNAM unveiled the Program for Care and Support of Mental Health (PUCASM) to identify at‑risk community members, provide follow‑up, and deliver timely care across campuses.
  • The stepped pathway draws on EMA data and a new university survey, offers online, telephone and in‑person entry points with 24/7 lines, and uses screening to trigger immediate "first emotional aid" or planned interventions like Espora.
  • The university acknowledged limited internal psychiatric capacity and renewed its collaboration with the IMSS to ensure specialist referrals, with coordination also planned with ISSSTE and public health authorities.
  • The rollout follows the September killing at CCH Sur and student demands for action, with priority attention to bachillerato students and preventive, peer‑guided community supports.
  • Governance and scale include coordination by psychologist María Elena Medina‑Mora under the Community Services Secretariat, creation of registries and indicators, and an initial reach projected at more than 200,000 students.