Recently, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital Ho Chi Minh City (BV ĐHYD) organized a series of practical seminars on mental health care for staff and workers, attracting over 400 registrants. The program was implemented by the Management and Mental Health Care Board, under the guidance of Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Minh Mẫn – Head of the Clinical Psychology Unit. The three topics presented, depression, anxiety and stress, opened a journey of inner exploration, helping participants gain a deeper understanding of emotions, psychological states, and how to nurture peace in the medical profession.

In the topic “Approaching and Treating Depression”, participants embark on a gentle yet profound journey – a journey of self-reflection. From the perspective of clinical psychology, feelings of sadness, fatigue, or loss of interest are no longer seen as “weakness”, but understood as signals of a soul that needs to be heard. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Minh Mẫn helped learners become familiar with early identification tools such as PHQ-9 and DASS-21, thereby distinguishing depression from other mental disorders. Not only stopping at diagnosis, the session also opens up self-healing methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness practice, or lifestyle adjustments, helping each person understand themselves better and learn to care for their mind as they do for their body each day.

Arriving at the topic “Approach and Therapy for Anxiety Disorders”, the classroom atmosphere seems to slow down, allowing each person to look straight at their own worries, emotions that are both familiar and challenging in the medical profession. Because amid long shifts and life‑or‑death decisions, anxiety can be a motivator that makes us more cautious, but it can also be a burden that exhausts the mind. With modern diagnostic tools such as GAD‑7 and DSM‑5‑TR, learners realize that accepting anxiety is not a weakness, but the beginning of inner freedom. When guided through techniques such as exposure, cognitive restructuring, or guided relaxation, each person gradually understands that peace does not come from eliminating emotions, but from how we comprehend and accompany them.

Closing the series of topics is the “Stress Management” session, offering an intimate, open atmosphere like a conversation among colleagues learning how to “stop and breathe”. Through stress‑control breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and personal action plans, participants experience a gentle release of tension and regain balance between work and life. Each exercise, each quiet moment in class becomes a simple mental remedy – reminding us that rest is also part of service, and only by caring for ourselves do we have enough energy to continue loving, healing, and contributing.

“Medical professionals often devote all their heart and energy to patients' health, but sometimes forget their own mental well‑being. This series provides an opportunity for us to pause, listen to ourselves, and learn to care for our emotions as an essential part of holistic health,” shared Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Minh Mẫn.

Through a series of special topics, BV ĐHYD wishes to care for the physical and mental health of its staff, aiming for a safe - humane - sustainable work environment, where each member is not only healthy to serve, but also at peace to spread love.