42,000 young people asked for free psychology and nutritionist consultations

Mthere were 42,000 young people who asked for free consultations on psychology and nutritionist since July, under a government program that started on July 2, released today the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ).

“ To date, 90,019 checks have been issued, of which 52,337 in the area of psychology and 37,682 in the area of nutrition, corresponding to a universe of 42,040 requests submitted by young people,” the IPDJ said, in a written reply sent to Lusa about the operation of the program, which provides for the availability of psychologist and nutritionist checks for free consultations for young people aged 12 to 35 years.

The institute stated that within these 90,019 there are about 14,000 follow-up checks after the first two mandatory consultations.

In relation to the visits, 8,116 consultations were registered, of which 4,385 in the Psychology area and 3,731 in the Nutrition area, according to the IPDJ.

However, the 8,116 registered consultations do not correspond to those held, since not all professionals were able to register the monitoring on the platform or receive the checks issued due to delays related to “the automation processes on the platform that supports the program”, the institute justified.

The written reply of the institute follows warnings made by psychologists about difficulties in registering new checks on the program platform.

The IPDJ confirmed to Lusa that professionals who adhere to the program will not be able to register further consultations until the 29th of this month due to a technological update that “implies a transitional period of adaptation of the platform”.

The Institute stressed, however, that young people will continue to receive proper follow-up.

“ This limitation is exclusively applicable to the administrative registration of consultations, to be carried out by professionals, not compromising the monitoring of young people, the submission of new requests for checks or access to the other features of the platform”, he explained.

According to the IPDJ, professionals will be able to re-register consultations on the platform from 30 November.

One of the psychologists who denounced the situation, Rosana Milhomens, told Lusa that she can perform consultations and register the check, when possible, on the platform, but until the service is registered she will not be able to receive for the service.

“ I have how to put it later and prove that I did ", indicated.

According to the IPDJ, “payments are made up to 90 days [three months] after the consultation provided that the respective invoice is sent”, i.e. as long as the service is registered.

Checks must be requested through the gov.pt platform with the Digital Mobile Key to check the age of young people.