Attending the discussion were Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quang Lieu (Principal of the High School for the Gifted in Social Sciences), MSc. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai (Deputy Head of the Department of Student Affairs and Policy, University of Social Sciences and Humanities), and more than 500 students of the High School for the Gifted.
In particular, the talk show is accompanied by two speakers who are experts in counseling and mental health care for children and adolescents from the Department of Psychology: Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thu Huong, Dr. Nguyen Ba Dat.
According to the ActionAid International Vietnam School Mental Health Research Report (2022), up to 16% of male students and 28% of female students in secondary and high school have symptoms of anxiety disorders. This number shows signs of increasing after the Covid 19 pandemic. Mental disorders account for 13% of the global burden of disease.
MSc. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai (Deputy Head of Political Affairs and Student Affairs Department) emphasized the goal and significance of the discussion: In addition to focusing on improving the quality of training, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities pays special attention to the care, counseling, and psychological support for students; helping them have good mental health, so that they can complete their studies well and be safer and happier in life. This policy of the University has always received enthusiastic support and participation from many lecturers and scientists from training units in the University.
MSc. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai also sent her deep thanks to the two speakers, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thu Huong and Dr. Nguyen Ba Dat, who despite their busy professional work still arranged time to come to the students for today's talk.
The atmosphere of the talk was very open and exciting from the beginning because of the humorous, friendly and close conversation of the two speakers. Although mentioning very deep specialized knowledge about psychology, mental health, etc., the two teachers conveyed it very simply and easily through familiar examples in the daily life of the students. Therefore, in nearly 3 hours, the speakers both exchanged and received very positive interactions and feedback from the students.
In his sharing, Dr. Nguyen Ba Dat emphasized: The change in psychology and physiology during adolescence is also one of the important causes affecting the spiritual life of young people. During this period, the ties with their family become loose, they are no longer close to, or confide in their parents as much as when they were young. Awareness of social issues is also deeper, thinking is sharper, exposure to a wider environment makes children like to argue, resist adults, and sometimes they think that is a way to express themselves, to prove their important position. When discovering the shortcomings of their parents, friends, or when they do not meet expectations, they easily become disappointed, bored, and think negatively. Students have to face studying, the problem of choosing a career for the future, with difficult exams, social challenges leading to anxiety, insecurity, and psychological stress. If children recognize and respond in a healthy way, along with the closeness and sharing of family, friends, and teachers, negative emotions will pass quickly. However, in reality, there are cases where stress lasts for a long time. And many parents take their children to see a specialist only when the problems are serious, reducing the effectiveness of treatment.
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thu Huong shared: Adolescence (15-24 years old) is the time of the healthiest physical development in life before experiencing declines in adulthood. However, the overall morbidity and mortality rate increases by 200-300% between middle childhood (10-14 years old) and adolescence (15-19 years old). Adolescence also signals a high rate of risky behaviors, sensation seeking and erratic behavior, which has an emotional impact.
Each person's mental health is influenced by 5 factors: Health, Experience, Cognitive ability, Role/status in society and family, Personal feelings/emotions. In adolescence, especially the period of 15-24, when their awareness develops more, the need to assert and express themselves becomes stronger, especially the psychological changes during puberty, plus changes in the learning environment when entering high school, ... make students at this age susceptible to psychological problems. Common among them are depression, fatigue, anxiety, despair, gradually forming negative thoughts, leading to actions that hurt themselves and others.
During the discussion, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thu Huong raised a number of questions, exercises, mini games and received quite open interactions and sharing from the students of the Specialized High School about the problems they encounter when entering puberty, especially when facing exams and stressful studying, in which anxiety, fatigue, boredom, and disappointment are common. And every time they fall into that situation, students often have a withdrawn mentality, do not want to contact or talk to anyone and often turn to games, online entertainment and friends on social networks that they do not know. Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thu Huong warned: that is not a solution but makes the situation worse, even leading to unpredictable consequences.
So what is the solution to help high school students face and overcome common mental disorders in adolescence in a healthy way? First of all, they need to have good health, a healthy lifestyle, and positive thinking. In addition, they need to increase communication, conversation, and direct sharing with parents, friends, and teachers; stay away from stimulants, the negative side of social networks.
The seminar was successful beyond the expectations of the Organizing Committee when it received active participation and sharing from the students. Overcoming the initial feeling of apprehension, with a gentle and close conversation, the two speakers made the students completely trust and share their concerns. Once they knew what psychological problems the students were facing, the experts offered solutions and advice to help them face and overcome them successfully.
As shared by Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quang Lieu: “Today's discussion is truly a very meaningful activity not only for the students but also for the teachers of the High School for the Gifted in Social Sciences and Humanities. Because through open conversations like this, the teachers know that their students have, are and will face psychological changes during puberty, to be friends with them, to help them overcome those negative emotions successfully. After nearly 3 hours, the students were equipped with a lot of very useful knowledge about student psychology, about how to face and overcome stress through vivid situations and stories surrounding their lives”. Principal Nguyen Quang Lieu, on behalf of the staff and students of the School, would like to express his deep gratitude to the Board of Directors of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the departments, faculties and individuals Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thu Huong, Dr. Nguyen Ba Dat for joining hands to organize these very meaningful activities.
Some images from the sharing session between two psychologists and students of the High School for the Gifted in Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, about student stress and healthy ways to cope with it.
