Specialized Language Students Paving 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 rapidly changing society, young people not only have to adapt but also face many challenges: pressure to achieve, societal norms, loneliness, feelings of inadequacy… TEDxCNN Youth 2025 aims to inspire empathy, openness, and creativity in understanding these issues.

"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," shared Pham Mai Huong, head of event communications. Unlike other "safe" topics, psychology is a challenging choice.

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

This group of students organizes TEDx as an open playground where knowledge is shared, emotions are respected, and everyone—whether speaker or audience member—can step outside their comfort zone. They believe that the younger generation can and should be pioneers in changing societal perceptions of psychology.

According to Mai Huong, caring for mental health doesn't need to start with grand gestures. Sometimes, simply listening without judgment, a well-timed check-in message, or a small act of empathy can save someone's bad day.

Young Vietnamese people are becoming increasingly proactive in seeking information and therapy for emotional issues. A group of students from the Foreign Language Specialized High School hope to contribute to this change. Mai Huong expressed: "We hope that through this event, young people will be more open about their emotions and learn how to cope with sadness and hurt. More importantly, they will recognize unusual signs in family and friends so they can provide timely support."

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