The talk show "Balancing Mental Health and Reducing Stress During the Pandemic" was a success.

The talk show not only received enthusiastic participation and sharing from faculty, staff, and students within the university, but also garnered significant interest from parents, students, and residents in provinces and cities outside Hanoi. The speakers were faculty members currently working at the University's Psychology Department: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Hong Thai, Dr. Tran Thi Thu Huong, and Dr. Truong Quang Lam. Many psychological issues during the pandemic and solutions for stabilizing mental health to overcome the difficult times of the Covid-19 pandemic were discussed and debated enthusiastically during the talk show.

Professor Hoang Anh Tuan (Rector of the University) delivered the opening speech for the Talkshow.​​​​​​

Dr. Tran Thu Huong shared about the challenges she faced during the Covid-19 pandemic and how she took care of herself to maintain mental balance: In reality, during lockdown, people can break most of their boundaries and daily routines. When busy, they wish for days of freedom to do whatever they want. Now, with "freedom within limits," they feel pressured and suddenly realize the "gains and losses" in the freedom they once longed for. For an adult, work, family, and social interaction are three vital goals. Lockdown disrupts and disconnects people from social interactions, creating "silent spaces in relationships." These quiet moments can appear even in the closest relationships; in those quiet moments, everything feels slow, dull, and boring... But you should use them to reflect: when the same problem arises, a positive approach will lead to action and an optimistic attitude, bringing peace to the soul, overcoming yourself, and conquering uninvited challenges. Therefore, each person needs to maintain faith in themselves, be patient, love, respect, and be grateful for everything they have, always cheerful and optimistic, enjoying every moment of life. These days, simply being healthy and "surviving" is a blessing, and it's even better if we still have a job to do, family, and loved ones to cherish – that's the new normal psychological state.

Associate Professor Bui Thi Hong Thai shared her insights on "The Covid-19 Pandemic and the Challenges/Opportunities It Poses for Family Relationships." She noted that major external stressors such as natural disasters or pandemics not only impact the psychology of individuals, increasing the risk of mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and stress, but also affect close relationships such as spouses and parents-children. From a counseling perspective, Associate Professor Bui Thi Hong Thai believes there is no single formula for addressing these issues for each individual or family. Each characteristic, such as family structure, socio-economic conditions, and the nature of the spousal or parent-child relationship before the pandemic, can become a risk factor or a protective factor for family relationships against life's challenges. Therefore, if you have tried various methods and still feel stuck, frustrated, and unable to find happiness in life, consider seeking help from mental health professionals. Having someone to accompany you, listen, and help you explore yourself is beneficial in reducing stress and making healthy decisions in your life.

Dr. Truong Quang Lam shared insights on the bonding in parent-child relationships and children's sense of happiness. Bonding is generally positive, implying that individuals feel secure within relationships, which in turn helps children feel more trusted and loved, stabilize their emotions, and cope better with difficult situations. Interactive activities between parents and children—cooking, cleaning, reading, playing games, etc.—help strengthen the emotional bond between parents and children. Children are happy when their parents are happy. Parents themselves also need emotional balance and positive emotions because they too are subject to negative impacts from the pandemic, financial pressure, work pressure, and limited activities. Truong Quang Lam emphasized that it is crucial for parents to recognize this, as the pandemic is an unavoidable circumstance, and adjusting their perceptions is necessary to promptly identify what is valuable for themselves and their children in the current situation.

The talk show received active and positive interaction from the participating delegates. Many specific questions were sent to the experts even after the seminar ended, and many new ideas were also opened up for the talk show organizers for future activities, with the goal of supporting staff, lecturers, students, and trainees during the pandemic.