On 16 December 2025, Vinh University of Technology Education (VUTED) implemented the 5th activity in the “Mental Health Calendar for Students” series within the Erasmus+-funded MentalHigh project. The activity was integrated into a soft skills course under the theme “Developing stress coping skills for students”, with the participation of the MentalHigh project team, Dr. Pham Thi Ngoc Lan – Head of the research team, and MA. Cao Thi Thao – mental health expert and academic advisor for the program.
Figure 1. Project team, expert, and students participating in the MHC activity at VUTED.
At the beginning of the session, Dr. Pham Thi Ngoc Lan introduced the MentalHigh project and the objectives of the Mental Health Calendar activities, emphasizing the importance of equipping students with knowledge and practical skills to recognize stress, understand its causes, and apply appropriate coping strategies in academic and daily life contexts.
Figure 2. Students discussing common stress situations in group activities.
With academic guidance from MA. Cao Thi Thao, students watched a scenario-based video and discussed common stress-related situations such as academic deadlines, workload pressure, and interpersonal challenges. Students worked in groups to create a “portrait of a stressed person”, identifying physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural signs of stress, thereby gaining a clearer understanding of how stress affects individuals differently.
Figure 3. Students presenting group work on stress symptoms and experiences.
The class atmosphere was lively and highly interactive. Students used coloured cards to share personal strategies for coping with stress, such as physical activities, communication with peers, adequate rest, and adopting more positive perspectives. Many students shared that it had been a long time since they had experienced such an engaging, enjoyable, and inspiring learning session, which helped them feel more comfortable discussing mental health topics.
Figure 4. Students participating in interactive activities to practice stress relief techniques.
The program also introduced the concept of psychological first aid, helping students understand how to support themselves and their peers during stressful situations. The activity concluded with group presentations and small awards for active participation. MHC 5 contributes to improving mental health awareness, strengthening positive coping skills, and fostering a supportive learning environment for students at VUTED.