Miguel Ángel Martínez: "There is a clear association between the time spent on screens and the risk of developing depression".

On May 25, Miguel Angel Martinez, Full Professor of Public and Preventive Health at the University of Navarra, came to Malaga, his hometown, for the sixth session of the Alumni Meetings. A meeting in which also participated María Iraburu, president of the University, and which was attended by more than 150 alumni of the area.

The event began with a welcome by the president of the board territorial Alumni of Malaga, Eugenio Martinez-Echevarria [COM'97], who remarked the main goal of these meetings; "It is about taking a little piece of the University to different cities and make us remember what we lived during our university years".

The University's president , María Iraburu, was also present at this meeting. First of all, she emphasized the 70th anniversary of the University this year. "The invisible foundations of the University are still the same, that project of which St. Josemaría and the first pioneers who started it dreamed. That university center in which people would be formed at the highest professional level, but also discovering the whole human and spiritual dimension of life. And in these foundations we find inspiration for our future projects. 

The president then presented the projects that make up the University's Strategy 2025. Among them she wanted to highlight; the Alumni Scholarships Program, included within the project of Education transforming, the research Cancer and Palliative Care projects, and the future BIOMA Center that will house a research center and a Science Museum. In closing, he addressed the alumni to thank them for their support; "You alumni are the most important thing for the University, thank you for the love, for the support. Continue to be at contact with the University, we will welcome you with open arms."  

This was followed by the session of Full Professor Miguel Ángel Martínez in which he presented his latest book "Salmones, hormones and screens". In it he explained to the attendees who the salmon are; "they are so many young and old people who have the courage to swim against the current in an environment that makes it difficult for them to lead a healthy life". 

During the session Dr. Martinez spoke about the context in which the salmon move, making reference letter to the realities that must be fought against, such as the increase in the use of screens: "there is a clear association between the time spent on screens and the risk of developing depression". That is why for Miguel Ángel "the main affront to intelligence that the 21st century has had is to give smartphones to children". He also spoke about the addiction to pornography and the use of social networks that have also "contributed to the increase in suicidal behavior and deterioration of mental health". According to Dr. Martinez, these addictions would be patented by those multinationals that are profiting from the use of technologies. Along the same lines, he mentioned the business that the pharmaceutical companies are doing with female hormonal devices; "the absolute bargain for the pharmaceutical industry is to sell drugs that do not cure anything".

At the end of the session, the alumni enjoyed a cocktail and a networking space where they met again with colleagues, professors and others alumni of the University.

Final stretch of the Alumni Meetings

The Malaga event concludes the national tour of the Alumni Meetings. The University will soon travel to the United States, specifically to Miami (June 17) and Boston (June 22), to continue with the final stretch of the Alumni Meetings. These cities will be attended by the University of Navarra's president , María Iraburu, and many other academics and experts. 

In Miami the alumni will be able to enjoy a workshop multidisciplinary with the participation of various experts from the University and with the participation of Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero, Full Professor, former President and president of the association de Amigos. On the other hand, in Boston, Miguel Ángel Martínez will participate once again, this time in a dialogue on wellness and mental health with Stefanos Kales, professor at Harvard University.