Student Mental Health: The Foundation for Sustainable Education

Education cannot be sustainable without the mental health of students – a factor that is increasingly recognized as the key to a safe and happy school environment. Finding the right strategies and models to accompany the young generation has become an urgent requirement for schools, parents and society.

The British Council collaborated with Vinschool to organize an in-depth sharing session on “Strategies on mental health and good practices in the educational environment”, taking place in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Alarming reality of students' mental health

Student mental health is becoming a global challenge, especially in the context of increasing academic pressure, competition and the influence of the digital environment. According to a report conducted by the University of Queensland and the Institute of Social Sciences in 2022, about 21.7% of Vietnamese adolescents aged 10-17 have psychological problems. The most common problems are anxiety and depression, with the rates of these disorders being 18.6% and 4.3%, respectively.

Ensuring a safe learning environment and supporting the mental health of students and staff has long been one of the core values ​​of the British Council in Vietnam, aiming to build a positive and effective learning environment. In that spirit, the British Council collaborated with Vinschool to organize an in-depth sharing session on "Mental health strategies and good practices in the educational environment", taking place in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The event is aimed at school management teams and school boards to promote activities and build a network connecting schools to share experiences, support each other to build a comprehensive mental health care strategy in schools.

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Anh, National Manager of Safeguarding at the British Council, shared: "These figures have sounded the alarm bell for rapid intervention with practical measures to improve the mental health of adolescents and children, helping them face psychological challenges to develop comprehensively."

School leaders and teachers discuss mental health strategies and good practices in educational settings

Pioneering models in humanities education

International experience shows that building a comprehensive strategic framework is key to making mental health part of education.

Unlike the school model, the British Council is implementing a multi-layered mental health support model that focuses on the responsibility of care for students, staff, and stakeholders. The model is characterized by a multi-layered safeguarding structure, from the teaching center level to the national and regional levels, forming a tightly coordinated network.

At the British Council English teaching centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, specific measures are applied such as: all teachers and staff must be trained and updated annually on measures to protect and support students in the classroom, integrating mental health promotion content into English lessons, and adjusting the program for students with special learning needs. In parallel, the safety system and policies to support teachers and staff are respected, because only healthy adults can transmit positive energy and protect students.

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Anh, National Manager of Safety Assurance of the British Council shared at the event.

In addition, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Anh affirmed that it is impossible to ensure mental health for students without policies towards a safe learning environment. At the British Council, all activities are assessed to minimize risks and all staff and partners need to have the necessary qualities and skills to effectively protect children and adults. "A safe educational environment starts with the stability of the staff itself," Ms. Nguyen Phuong Anh commented.

In Vietnam, the Vinschool education system is also a successful example in building a safe and happy school ecosystem. The "Be Well" project, led by students, has created a safe, healthy learning environment and nurtured a positive spirit. Students are not only beneficiaries but also creators, initiators and direct implementers of community awareness raising activities. The school board plays a major role in helping to create conditions for teachers, parents and students to participate.

Dr. Khuc Nang Toan, Director of the School Psychology Program of the Vinschool education system, affirmed: "Mental health is no longer a neglected gap, but has become the foundation that determines students' ability to learn, build healthy relationships and grow up."

Dr. Khuc Nang Toan shared at the event

With the participation of 50 school leaders and teachers from more than 20 schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the initiative initiated by the British Council and the Vinschool education system has laid the initial bricks to create a network of schools that share knowledge, experience and support each other in building a mental health care system in the educational environment in Vietnam, creating a safe, humane and sustainable school ecosystem.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/suc-khoe-tinh-than-hoc-sinh-nen-tang-cho-giao-duc-ben-vung-185251009184842847.htm