Several countries choose May as Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme of this year, chosen by the Mental Health Foundation, is community, highlighting the essential role of community and social connections in mental health and well-being.
Social connections and community play a central role in mental health, especially during times of crisis. Healthy relationships and helpful community will contribute to helping us navigate life’s challenges. Research done by Dr Nguyen Thanh Ha, OUCRU Vietnam, using Bahers’ sociological framework, Community of Fate, reflected the formation of a community of HCWs and the social cohesion underlying their efforts to survive hardship during the pandemic.
Social supports contributed to several findings that staying connected with social relationships has led to positive mental health status. A research study of over 37,000 students at Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCMC) that was animated by Collab Lab, our youth-led initiative, showed that 84.5% of college students chose to stay connected with family and friends to help them overcome COVID-19’s social restrictions’ challenges.
Mental health in the research context
Mental health is important to everyone.
According to WHO, more than 100 million people suffer from mental health disorders in the Western Pacific Region. In Vietnam, according to the National Mental Hospital, 14.2% of the population suffers from one of ten common mental disorders. The rate of suicide in 2015 was 5.87 per 100 000 population.
Mental Health Awareness Week is important not only to raise awareness and emphasise the importance of collective social efforts, but also to encourage open conversations, reduce stigma, and promote wellbeing. It creates an opportunity for individuals, communities, and organizations to come together, share stories, and advocate for better mental health support.
Mental health challenges like stress, burnout, and depression are pervasive in science, research, and academia. A global online survey revealed that graduate students were more than six times more likely to experience moderate to severe anxiety or depression compared to the general population. Other research indicates that one-third of Ph.D. students risk developing or already have a common psychiatric disorder such as depression. A narrative review has identified several factors affecting higher education students’ mental health, well-being, and academic performance—including depression, anxiety, stress, academic pressure, insufficient social support, isolation, trauma, lack of inclusive practices, and pandemic-related stressors.
We need to work together to dispel the taboo and stigma surrounding mental health challenges.
This May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, OUCRU is collaborating with psychological experts to provide useful, localised resources for young people in both public and professional settings. We will emphasise the community’s vital role in addressing mental health challenges and guide how to engage with various community members—from people outside of your social circle to friends, colleagues, supervisors, and family.
Stay tuned to learn how to care for your mental health and support those around you. Remember: the power lies within our community, and that includes you.