From 18–20 March 2026, the final meeting of the MentalHigh – Building Mental Health Capacity at Higher Education Institutes in Southeast Asia project was successfully held at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City (HCMUSSH). The three-day event brought together project partners, experts, and stakeholders from Europe and Southeast Asia to review achievements and strengthen future collaboration in promoting mental health in higher education.
The event opened on 18 March with the Day 1 Partner Meeting, featuring welcome remarks from HCMUSSH representatives and an opening speech by HAW. Key sessions focused on sustainability of MentalHigh digital interventions, including discussions on long-term impact factors, Mental Health Calendar (MHC) events, Capacity Building Workshops (CBWs), and preparations for the international conference. Partners also reviewed financial reporting and coordination progress for the following activities.
On 19 March, the MentalHigh International Conference on “Strengthening Mental Health and Wellbeing in Higher Education” served as the highlight of the event. Followed an opening is a keynote speech from HAW. Key presentations included mapping the mental health landscape, sharing digital interventions such as the MoodCare course and ShiningMind application, and highlighting student perspectives through the “Student Voices” session. The program also featured a workshop on designing mentally healthy universities and concluded with a plenary discussion on adapting MentalHigh tools to local contexts. The conference fostered networking and partnership building among participants.
The final day, 20 March, was dedicated to the closing Partner Meeting. Discussions focused on final reports, deliverables, and key lessons learned throughout the project. Partners also explored future sustainability strategies and opportunities for continued collaboration, including the development of the MentalHigh platform and follow-up initiatives.
Overall, the event marked a significant milestone for the MentalHigh project, demonstrating its impact in enhancing mental health awareness, capacity building, and institutional practices across higher education institutions in Southeast Asia. It also reinforced the commitment of all partners to sustaining and expanding these efforts beyond the project’s completion.
