Language students pave the way for conversations about mental health

That was the goal of a group of students from the Foreign Language High School - Hanoi National University when organizing the TEDxCNN Youth 2025 event. Not only creating a creative forum, the group also "opened the way" for dialogues about mental health - an issue that has not received due attention in Vietnam.

In the context of rapid social change, young people not only have to adapt but also face many challenges: pressure to achieve, social norms, loneliness, the feeling of not being good enough... TEDxCNN Youth 2025 aims to evoke empathy, openness and creativity in perceiving those things.

"We want to create a space where everyone can share, learn and find comfort; where knowledge is not only conveyed through words, but also touches the emotions of the listeners," said Pham Mai Huong, head of the event's communications department. Unlike other "safe" topics, psychology is a challenging choice.

Explaining this bold decision, Mai Huong said: "We realize that today's youth face a lot of pressure - from academic performance, family expectations, to strict standards set by society. While these pressures are real, caring for and understanding mental health is still something that is overlooked. That's why we put psychology at the center - to speak up about what many people are still trying to hide."

This group of students organizes TEDx as an open playground, where knowledge is spread, where emotions are respected, and where everyone - whether speaker or audience - can step out of their "comfort zone". They believe that the younger generation can and should be the pioneers in changing society's perception of psychology.

According to Mai Huong, caring for mental health doesn’t have to start with big things. Sometimes, just listening without judgment, a timely text message, or a small act of empathy can save someone’s bad day.

Young Vietnamese people are gradually becoming more proactive in seeking information and emotional therapy. A group of students from the Foreign Language High School hope to contribute to promoting that change. Mai Huong expressed: "We hope that through this event, young people will be more open with their emotions and can learn how to face sadness and hurt. More importantly, it is important to recognize unusual signs in relatives and friends so that timely support can be provided."

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/hoc-sinh-chuyen-ngu-mo-loi-cho-nhung-cuoc-doi-thoai-ve-suc-khoe-tinh-than-20250513110341935.htm