Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal
https://www.sciendo.com/journal/MHGCJ
ISSN 2612-2138
A Quantitative Study on Vietnamese University
Students’ Perceptions of Mental Illness
Le Minh Tien
Ho Chi Minh City Open University, Vietnam
Abstract
Introduction:
Mental illness is a global issue that affects various population groups, including
university students. Gaining insights into students' perspectives on mental illness plays a vital role in
fostering mental health awareness and combating stigma in educational environments
Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate Vietnamese undergraduate students’ knowledge,
perceptions, and attitudes of mental illness by focusing on the dimensions: (i) the level of
knowledge students possesses about the causes and manifestations of mental illness, and (ii) their
attitudes towards individuals experiencing mental health problems.
Methodology: Using a descriptive cross-
sectional design, this study involved 350 undergraduate
students from five universities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Data collection was conducted
between June and July 2024 and utilized the Perception Towards Persons with Mental Illness (PWMI)
Scale adapted from previous studies. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for
Social Science software, version 25 (IBM SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA).
Results
: The results indicated that approximately 80.6% knew about mental illness, and 70.5%
perceived mental illness as a common or quite common phenomenon in Vietnam. Regarding the
aetiology of mental illness, a significant majority identified "bad things happening to you" as a
cause (73.3%), followed by substance abuse (51.4%) and brain disease (50.0%). The findings also
revealed that, despite some positive perceptions and attitudes, many responses clustered around
the neutral option, particularly for controversial or personal items.
Conclusions: The findings of this study underscore the need for targeted educational interventions
to foster more informed and compassionate attitudes towards individuals with mental illness
among undergraduate students.
Keywords
Mental illness, People with mental illness, Mental health, Psychiatric illness, Attitudes.
Address for correspondence:
Le Minh Tien, Ho Chi Minh City Open University,
35 Ho Hao Hon st, Co Giang Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
E-mail: tien.lm@ou.edu.vn
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution- 4.0
International License (CC BY 4.0).
©Copyright: Tien, 2025
Publisher: Paradigm (De Gruyter)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56508/mhgcj.v8i1.312
Submitted for
publication: 20
September 2025
Revised: 07 November
2025
Accepted for
publication: 11
November 2025
Introduction
In today's fast-paced world, mental health is
an essential component of human health. The
World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental
health as a state of well-being in which every
individual realizes its potential, can cope with the
normal stresses of life, works productively, and
contributes to their community. In general,
mental health is a basic human right (WHO,
2022). Mental health includes emotional,
psychological, and social well-being, influencing
how people think, feel and act. It is essential for
managing stress, forming relationships and
making decisions, ultimately its improve quality of
life and nurturing positive societal contributions.
Mental illness (MI) is widespread. In 2019, an
es has been associated to timated 970 million
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people, or 13% of the global population, were
living with a mental disorder. This includes 301
million with anxiety disorders, including 58 million
children and adolescents. There were 280 million
people with depression, 40 million with bipolar
disorder and 24 million with schizophrenia.
Additionally, 14 million people suffer from eating
disorders and 40 million have disruptive behavior
and dissocial disorders (WHO, 2022).
Approximately 15 million people in Vietnam,
representing approximately 14.9% of the total
population, have mental health disorders.
Among these, depression and anxiety affect
approximately 6.0% of the population, with
additional conditions encompassing bipolar
disorders and psychiatric issues related to alcohol
use (Le, 2022).
Within the realm of mental health issues,
university students' perceptions and attitudes
toward mental illness in various national contexts
have been the subject of considerable scholarly
attention. Research indicates that stigma plays a
significant role in shaping negative perceptions.
DeFreitas et al. (2018) posited that the stigma
associated with MI arises from negative beliefs
and thoughts about the illness or its treatment.
This stigma, in turn, has been associated with
adverse outcomes such as poorer mental health
and reduced engagement with mental health
services. A study in Egypt found that most
students had stigma towards patients with MI, with
pharmaceutical students exhibiting more
negative perceptions of MI compared to their
medical and science counterparts (Shehata &
Abdeldaim., 2020). Cross-cultural comparisons
revealed interesting disparities. Kamimura et al.
conducted a study involving 952 university
students from Vietnam and the United States,
revealing contrasting perspectives on the
perceived causes of MI. Vietnamese students
were more inclined to perceive individuals with MI
as dangerous and in need of isolation, whereas
their American counterparts viewed MI in a
manner similar to that of other health conditions.
However, a comparative analysis of British and
Singaporean medical students revealed no
significant difference in their attitudes towards MI,
as both groups exhibited negative perceptions
regarding the issue (Rees et al., 2023).
In fact, studies within specific national contexts
have further illuminated these perceptions. In
India, Desai et al. (2018) found that medical
students in Gujarat held concerning views, with
about half believing depression stemmed from a
"weak personality" and a majority associating
violence with MI. Overall, their perspectives were
neutral. Similarly, Barman et al. (2021) found
significant stigmatizing attitudes among
undergraduate students at Rajshahi University,
Bangladesh. The study found that a prevalent
belief that MI was caused by drug misuse and
negative life events rather than genetic factors,
physical illness, or even divine punishment. Prior
research on Indian nursing students has
confirmed these negative attitudes (Sreeraj et al.,
2017). In contrast, a study conducted in South
Africa attributed MI to biological factors.
Specifically, South African students believe that MI
arises from a range of biopsychosocial factors,
including prenatal damage to the fetus, injuries,
or accidents resulting in brain impairment (Lima-
Smit et al., 2022).
Socioeconomic and demographic factors
also appeared to influence attitudes. Al-Naggar
(2013) observed that university students' attitudes
towards individuals with MI ranged from
moderate to positive and were significantly
affected by gender, marital status, smoking
habits, and alcohol consumption. Furthermore,
Dessoki and Hifnawy (2009) and Ünal et al. (2010)
suggested that lower socioeconomic status is
often associated with more unfavorable attitudes.
Similarly, a study conducted in Qatar revealed a
significant prevalence of stigmatizing attitudes
among university students, including the belief
that individuals with MI were incapable of
maintaining regular employment or that they
would not be willing to work with individuals with
MI (Zolezzi et al., 2017). In addition, Melkam et
al.'s (2024) study in Ethiopia found that
approximately half of medical students held
negative attitudes, with age, male gender, rural
background, and the absence of a family history
of MI as significant predictors.
However, not all studies have pointed to
negative perceptions. Vijayalakshmi et al., (2013)
found that academic major influenced students'
views in India, with nursing students exhibiting
more positive attitudes than business
management students. Similarly, a cross-
sectional study by Connaughton and Gibson
(2016) revealed that undergraduate students
enrolled in the entry-level physiotherapy program
at the University of Notre Dame Australia generally
hold positive views on MI and mental health
issues. In a similar vein, in a comparable study
conducted among medical and nursing students
in Singapore, it was found that students generally
had positive attitudes towards individuals with MI,
although some differences between medical
and nursing students exist (Chang et al., 2017).
More recently, Mahboub et al. (2020) reported
generally positive attitudes among students in
Saudi Arabia, influenced by gender, field of
study, and knowledge of MI. In addition, a
qualitative study by Riffel et al. (2020) in Canada
indicated that healthcare students possessed
comprehensive mental health knowledge and
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largely held positive attitudes towards individuals
with MI. Furthermore, utilizing the Attitudes Towards
Patients with Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMI),
Shammari et al. (2020) discovered that nursing
students in Saudi Arabia had favorable attitudes
towards MI. Recently, a cross-sectional study
utilizing the Community Attitudes Toward Mental
Illness (CAMI) scale, conducted by Alexander et
al. (2023), revealed that the majority of Australian
students exhibited positive and accepting
attitudes towards individuals with MI, except for
perceptions of dangerousness.
Overall, previous studies have revealed a
complex landscape of university students'
perceptions of and attitudes towards MI. While
stigma and certain sociocultural factors
contribute to negative attitudes in some contexts,
other factors, such as education and personal
experiences, can foster more positive
perceptions. Further research is needed to
understand these nuances and develop effective
interventions to reduce stigma and promote
positive attitudes towards MI.
Purpose
The present study aimed to investigate
Vietnamese undergraduate students’ knowledge,
perceptions, and attitudes of mental illness by
focusing on the dimensions: (i) the level of
knowledge students possess about the causes
and manifestations of mental illness, and (ii) their
attitudes toward individuals experiencing mental
health problems. By examining these aspects,
the study seeks to provide empirical evidence
that can inform the development of targeted
mental health awareness programs, reduce
stigma, and promote supportive environments
within universities in Vietnam.
Methodology
Study Design
This study employed a cross-sectional survey
design to examine Vietnamese undergraduate
students’ perceptions and attitudes towards MI.
This design was considered suitable for capturing
students’ perspectives within a defined timeframe
and allowed for statistical analysis of associations
between variables.
Participants
A convenience sampling method was used to
recruit 350 undergraduate students from five
universities located in Ho Chi Minh City, the
largest city in Vietnam. The sample included
students from different years of study and diverse
fields to ensure variability.
Measurement
Data were collected through a self-
administered questionnaire composed of two
parts. The first part focused on the background of
the respondents, including age, gender, year of
study, and field of study. The second part
included the attitude and perception of MI and
its causes. Attitudes and perceptions regarding MI
were evaluated using the Perception Towards
Persons with Mental Illness (PWMI) Scale adapted
from previous studies (Sadik et al., 2010;
Chikomo, 2011; Poreddi et al., 2015; Abolfotouh
et al., 2019). This instrument comprises a list of 21
statements, rated on a five-point scale (1 =
strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 =
agree, and 5 = strongly agree). Negative items
were reverse-coded, with higher scores indicating
more favorable attitudes and perceptions.
Procedures
Data collection took place from June to July
2024. Prior to participation, students were
informed about the study’s purpose, potential
benefits and risks, confidentiality measures, and
their right to voluntary participation.
Questionnaires were distributed in both classroom
settings and outside class hours, allowing
participants to complete them at their
convenience.
Data Analysis
Data were analyzed using the Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 (IBM
SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Descriptive statistics such
as frequency, percentages, mean score, and
standard deviation (SD) were used. Inferential
statistics were applied to examine the
relationships between undergraduate students’
knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and
demographic characteristics. Specifically, the
Student’s t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA)
were used for quantitative data, and the chi-
square test (χ2) was applied for categorical data.
As a general rule, a significance level of P < 0.05
was generally adopted for all statistical analyses
(Mace & Pétry, 2013).
Results
Personal characteristics of the participants
During the study period, 350 undergraduate
students completed the survey, of whom 47.1%
(n = 165) were male and 52.9% (n = 185) were
female. The mean age of the participants was
20.23 years (SD = 1.212), ranging from 18 to 24
years. Among the respondents, 22.9% (n = 80)
were from Ho Chi Minh City Open University
(HCMCOU), 20.0% (n = 70) from Ho Chi Minh City
University of Education (HCMUE), 20.0% (n = 70)
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from Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics
and Finance (UEF), 22.9% (n = 80) from Saigon
University (SGU), and 14.3% (n = 50) from Ton Duc
Thang University (TDTU). Regarding year of study,
32.0% (n = 112) were first-year students, 28.0% (n
= 98) were second-year students, 21.4% (n = 75)
were third-year students, and 18.6% (n = 65)
were fourth-year students. In terms of major,
28.9% (n = 101) were studying social sciences
and humanities, 22.9% (n = 80) were in business
and economics, 17.7% (n = 62) were pursuing
foreign languages, 16.3% (n = 57) were in
information technology (IT), and 14.3% (n = 50)
were in natural sciences and other fields.
Additionally, 80.6% (n = 282) were aware of MI.
Regarding the prevalence of MI in Vietnam,
17.1% (n = 60) thought MI was common,
whereas 53.4% (n = 187) thought it was relatively
common. The participants’ personal
characteristics are listed in Table 1.
Table 1. The personal characteristics of participants (n=350)
Variables
Frequency
Percentage (%)
Age
Mean = 20.23 (SD = 1.215)
Gender
Male
Female
165
185
47.1
52.9
University
HCMCOU
HCMUE
UEF
SGU
TDTU
80
70
70
80
50
22.9
20.0
20.0
22.9
14.2
Year of study
First-year
Second-year
Third-year
Fourth-year
112
98
75
65
32.0
28.0
21.4
18.6
Major field of study
Social sciences & Humanities
Business/Economics
Foreign Languages
Information technology (IT)
Natural Sciences & Others
101
80
62
57
50
28.9
22.9
17.7
16.3
14.6
Did you know about mental illness?
Yes
No
282
68
80.6
19.4
Prevalence of mental illness in Vietnam
Common
Quite common
Rarely common
Do not know
60
187
65
38
17.1
53.4
18.6
10.9
As shown in Table 1, approximately 80.6%
knew about MI, and 70.5% perceived MI as a
common or quite common phenomenon in
Vietnam. Thus, there are still gaps in the
knowledge about the prevalence of MI among
students.
Knowledge about causes of MI
Table 2 details the participants’ responses
regarding potential causes of MI. A significant
majority identified "bad things happening to you"
as a cause (73.3%), followed by substance
abuse (51.4%) and brain disease (50.0%). In
contrast, causes related to spiritual factors
received the least agreement, with only 10.6%
attributing MI to God's punishment, and 6.3% to
spirits. Overall, the study revealed that students
perceive MI as resulting from multiple factors,
rather than a single cause.
Perceptions about mentally ill people
Table 3 presents participants’ perceptions of
people with mental illness (PWMI) using a Likert-
type scale ranging from Strongly Agree (SA) to
Strongly Disagree (SD), along with the
corresponding mean scores. The scale likely
ranges from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly
Agree), so a mean of 3 is neutral. Results
revealed that the majority of participants
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disagreed with the following statements: PWMI
are not capable of true friendships (62.9%), are
crazy (58.2%), can be known from their physical
appearance (52.9%), and are usually dangerous
(44.6%). On the other hand, the majority of
participants agreed that anyone could suffer
from an MI (66.8%), and 46.3% agreed that PWMI
could work. Overall, the high percentage of
neutral responses across several statements
suggests uncertainty or a lack of awareness.
Nonetheless, a statistically significant difference
was found between males and females
regarding the belief that PWMI are largely to
blame for their own condition. Females were
more likely than males to agree with this
statement (t = -2.157, df = 348, p = 0.030).
Furthermore, students who were knowledgeable
about MI showed higher levels of agreement
than those who were not with the statements that
people with mental illness can work (p = 0.018)
and that anyone can suffer from a MI (p =
0.000).
Table 2. Participants’ knowledge about causes of mental illness
Statements
Yes
No
Do not know
% (N)
% (N)
% (N)
1. Mental illness is caused by genetic inheritance
26.6 (93)
39.7 (139)
33.7 (118)
2. Mental illness is caused by substance abuse
51.4 (180)
20.6 (72)
28.0 (98)
3. Mental illness is caused by bad things
happening to you
73.3 (258)
9.4 (33)
16.9 (59)
4. Mental illness is God’s punishment
10.6 (37)
72.0 (252)
17.4 (61)
5. Mental illness is caused by brain disease
50.0 (175)
17.4 (61)
32.6 (114)
6. Mental illness is caused by a personal weakness
26.0 (91)
47.7 (167)
26.3 (92)
7. Poverty can be the cause of mental illness
25.7 (90)
40.9 (143)
33.4 (117)
8. Mental illness is caused by spirits
6.3 (22)
72.6 (254)
21.1 (74)
Table 3. Participants’ perceptions about mental illness
Statements
SA
AG
NT
DA
SD
Mean
%
%
%
%
%
1. People with mental health problems are largely to
blame for their own condition.
4.3
17.1
39.7
26.9
12.0
2.75
2. One can always tell a mentally ill person by his or
her physical appearance.
3.1
17.4
26.6
36.0
16.9
2.54
3. Mentally ill persons are not capable of true
friendships.
3.1
8.9
25.1
38.0
24.9
2.27
4. Mentally ill persons can work.
9.7
36.6
31.7
15.1
6.9
3.27
5. Mentally ill persons are usually dangerous.
3.4
11.4
40.6
31.7
12.9
2.61
6. Anyone can suffer from a mental illness.
33.7
33.1
20.3
7.2
5.7
3.82
7. Mentally ill people are crazy.
3.7
13.7
24.3
31.1
27.1
2.36
Abbreviations: AG, agree; DA, disagree; NT, neutral; SA, strongly agree; SD, strongly disagree.
Attitudes toward mentally ill people
Regarding attitudes towards PWMI (Table 4),
the data revealed a mix of both positive and
negative attitudes among participants. While
56.8% agreed that PWMI should have the same
rights as anyone else, 51.7% believed that
people are generally caring and sympathetic
towards PWMI. In contrast, although 31.7% felt
they could maintain a friendship with someone
who had an MI, with students in the social
sciences and humanities showing the highest
level of agreement with this statement, but less
than one fifth (18.6%) expressed a willingness to
marry someone with MI.
In terms of the management of MI, 33.7% of
the participants indicated that they would not
want others to know if they had an MI. A
significant gender difference was observed, with
females showing a higher level of agreement
than males (Meanfemale = 3.20, Meanmale = 2.94,
P = 0.023). Additionally, 64.3% disapproved that
one should hide his/her mental illness from his/her
family, 62.3% disagreed that they would be feel
ashamed if a family member had an MI, and
66.0% agreed that they would feel comfortable
discussing a mental health problem with
someone at their primary healthcare provider
(PHCP), with females showing a higher level of
agreement than males (Meanfemale = 3.93,
Meanmale = 3.62, P = 0.018).
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Table 4. Participants’ attitudes towards mental illness
Statements
SA
AG
NT
DA
SD
Mean
%
%
%
%
%
1. People with mental health illnesses should have
the same rights as anyone else.
21.7
35.1
28.6
8.0
6.6
3.57
2. People are generally caring and sympathetic
toward people with mental illness.
13.1
38.6
32.3
11.1
4.9
3.44
3. I could maintain a friendship with someone with a
mental illness.
5.7
26.0
49.4
13.1
5.7
3.13
4. I could marry someone with a mental illness.
4.0
14.6
45.4
20.0
16.0
2.71
5. If I was suffering from a mental health illness, I
would not want people to know about it.
9.1
24.6
40.3
16.9
9.1
3.08
6. The mentally ill should not be allowed to make
decisions, even those concerning routine events.
4.3
14.0
31.7
34.6
15.4
2.57
7. I would be afraid to have a conversation with a
mentally ill person.
4.6
10.3
38.3
27.4
19.4
2.53
8. One should avoid all contact with the mentally ill.
3.1
12.0
30.0
33.1
21.7
2.42
9. I would be upset or disturbed about working on
the same job as a mentally ill person.
4.0
13.7
41.4
25.2
15.7
2.65
10. The mentally ill should be prevented from having
children.
7.7
17.7
47.7
17.2
9.7
2.97
11. The mentally ill should not get married.
5.7
11.7
49.2
21.4
12.0
2.78
12. I would be ashamed if people knew that
someone in my family had been diagnosed with a
mental illness.
4.6
9.7
23.4
33.1
29.2
2.27
13. One should hide his/her mental illness from
his/her family.
4.6
9.7
21.4
29.7
34.6
2.20
14. If I was concerned about a mental health issue
with a member of my family or myself, I would feel
comfortable discussing it with someone at my PHCP.
35.1
30.9
18.6
8.3
7.1
3.79
Abbreviations: PHCP, primary health care provider
Discussion
The current study assessed knowledge,
perception, and attitude regarding mental illness
(MI) among Vietnamese university students. The
majority of students were aware of MI and
perceived it as a common or fairly common
phenomenon in Vietnam. This finding is consistent
with a study conducted in Bangladesh, where
84.3% of students reported being aware of
mental illness (Islam et al., 2020). The widespread
prevalence of MI, especially in ASEAN countries,
may contribute to students’ knowledge of the
condition (Dessauvagie et al., 2021). Regarding
the etiology of MI, this study found that the
majority of students agreed it can be caused by
bad things happening to them, substance
abuse, and brain disease. These findings are
consistent with those of Al-Adawi et al., (2002),
Barman et al., (2021), and Alqassim et al., (2022).
Conversely, more than 70% of students
disagreed with the beliefs that MI is caused by
God's punishment or by spirits. Vietnamese
students also disagreed that MI is caused by
genetic inheritance, which contrasts with findings
from studies in Poland and India, where medical
students believed that hereditary factors play a
dominant role in the development of MI (Poreddi
et al., 2015). Cultural differences may account
for the contrasting views on the etiology of mental
illness. In general, the students in this study had
adequate knowledge of the causes of MI.
In terms of perceptions, the participants in this
study expressed mixed perceptions and attitudes
towards PWMI. Most of the students agreed that
anyone can suffer from MI (66.8%) and that
mentally ill people can work (46.3%).
Furthermore, the majority of students disagreed
with statements reflecting negative perceptions
of individuals with mental illness, with the overall
level of disagreement ranging from 38.9% to
62.9%. This finding is in line with previous studies
among medical and nursing students in
Singapore (Chang et al., 2017) and among
students in Bangladesh (Barman et al., 2021).
An important finding of this study is the
relatively high proportion of neutral responses
across several items on perceptions and attitudes
towards MI. In the Vietnamese sociocultural
context, this neutrality may reflect Confucian
values emphasizing moderation, harmony, and
avoidance of confrontation (Hieu, 2018).
Expressing strong or controversial opinions,
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especially on sensitive issues such as MI, may be
perceived as socially inappropriate or as risking
loss of face (mất thể diện). Choosing a neutral
response thus allows individuals to maintain social
harmony and avoid conflict. Furthermore, neutral
responses may indicate genuine uncertainty
arising from limited knowledge or inconsistent
exposure to mental health education. The topic
of MI remains relatively unfamiliar to many
Vietnamese students, who may not have access
to adequate psychological literacy through
school curricula or public health communication.
This is understandable, as it was not until 2022
that the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and
Training issued Decision No. 1442/QĐ-BGDĐT on
the Mental Health Education Program for Children
and Students for the 2022–2025 period (MOET,
2022).
Regarding attitudes towards PWMI, this study
showed that more than half of the participants
agreed that mentally ill individuals should have
the same rights as anyone else, and that people
are generally caring and sympathetic toward
those with MI. However, only 31.7% and 18.6% of
participants agreed that they could maintain a
friendship with someone with a MI and could
marry someone with a MI, respectively. This
finding is in line with other studies (Albarqi &
Almaqhawi, 2022; Alqassim et al., 2022). In terms
of treatment of PWMI, the majority of the students
(66.0%) reported that they would feel
comfortable discussing their own or a family
member’s mental health issue with someone at
their PHCP. In addition, less than 20% of the
participants agreed with statements reflecting
negative attitudes, with the exception of the
statement regarding reluctance to disclose their
own mental illness, which was stated by 33.7%.
This may stem from fear of stigma, underscoring
the need for targeted interventions to empower
individuals to seek help from mental health care
provider.
Practical value
This study contributes to addressing local and
global health challenges by highlighting the
importance of improving mental health literacy
and reducing stigma among students in low -
and middle income countries. University students
represent a key population for early mental
health interventions, as they are future
professionals and community leaders who can
influence public attitudes. By identifying specific
misconceptions and neutral attitudes towards MI
among Vietnamese university students, the study
provides actionable evidence for policymakers,
educators, and mental health practitioners to
design culturally relevant awareness and
intervention programs. Beyond Vietnam, these
insights contribute to the broader agenda of
global mental health by emphasizing stigma
reduction, early detection, and social inclusion as
universal challenges in higher education
contexts. Ultimately, this work supports the
development of socially responsive mental health
education that fosters empathy, resilience, and
inclusive engagement across societies
Strengths and Limitations
The present study has certain limitations, such
as the small and non-probability sample
selection and cross-sectional design, making it
difficult to generalize the findings. Thus, future
studies should focus on larger sample and
comparative studies among students from other
regions of the country. In addition, a qualitative
approach for further studies is needed. Despite
these limitations, the present study showed
certain important findings to the educators and
administrators in increasing knowledge about MI
and reducing stigmatizing attitudes towards
PWMI.
Conclusions
In summary, this study contributes important
implications for mental health education in
Vietnam. By examining students’ perceptions and
attitudes of mental illness, it provides evidence to
reduce stigma, improve mental health literacy,
and guide the development of university-based
counselling and support services. The findings
also inform public health policies aimed at
integrating mental health into national agendas.
Ultimately, this research fosters a more inclusive
and supportive environment for young people,
helping to promote long-term cultural change
towards empathy, awareness, and proactive
mental health care, while simultaneously
mitigating mental health challenges.
Acknowledgements
The author thanks all the students for their
valuable contribution.
Ethical considerations
This study was approved by the ethical
committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Open
University (Ref. no. 582-2024/QĐ-ĐHM). The study
was carried out in full compliance with the ethical
protocol, which includes informed consent,
participants protection, confidentiality.
204
Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal
https://www.sciendo.com/journal/MHGCJ
ISSN 2612-2138
Funding statement
The author received no financial support for
the research, authorship, and/or publication of
this article.
Conflict of interest
The author declares no conflicts of interest.
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