Speaking to the Lusa news agency, Valentim gave a positive assessment of the initiative, which recorded 31 registrations and 71 teleconsultations.

“Our goal was to reach young people quickly and effectively. We are talking about youths aged 13 to 18, specifically those facing issues that concern us as parents and guardians, such as extreme social isolation (often linked to social media) and socialisation problems at school,” she stated.

According to the councilwoman, who oversees the social development portfolio, these are “problems and issues” of concern that prompted the municipality to implement this project online.

“We felt that this was, in fact, the best way to reach young people. We realised that in-person consultations might somehow constrain or inhibit them,” she admitted.

Valentim acknowledged the existence of a “negative stigma” surrounding a young person speaking with a psychologist, confirming that the teleconsultation project will continue.

“There has been a drop recently because it is exam season, but the project is set to continue, and we expect requests to increase in September,” she added, noting that anxiety is the “most frequent issue” reported by the young people.

The ‘Reminder’ project was launched by the Municipality of Leiria on 7 April and promoted among social partners, including parish councils, health centres, and schools, regardless of whether some school clusters already had psychologists on staff.

At the time, the councilwoman explained that this is “an intervention focused on receiving and supporting individuals dealing with mental health issues” and that, whenever necessary, it involves coordination with other health professionals.

The goal is, taking into account the aftermath of the "Kristin" depression, which severely affected the municipality of Leiria on 28 January, to “offer psychological support, guidance, and strategies for coping with stress, anxiety, and other emotional reactions associated with crisis situations.”

Ana Valentim further noted that the ‘Reminder’ initiative aims to “facilitate access to psychological consultations and reduce barriers to seeking help, promote mental health literacy, and normalise seeking psychological support in the wake of the storm.”

Teleconsultation appeared to be the “most appropriate response to the current needs of the young population,” allowing for the “overcoming of geographical barriers, specifically the disparities between urban and rural areas”, while also facilitating “faster access to specialised support,” the official explained.

Moreover, it contributes to “reducing the stigma surrounding the search for psychological support,” the councilwoman highlighted.

The teleconsultations are provided by two psychologists from the Municipality of Leiria’s Health and Well-being Division.