On November 6, Good Neighbors International (GNI) organized an online seminar in Hanoi called "Start from small acts, Listen from the heart" with experts and parents to discuss mental healthcare for Vietnamese teenagers.

The program is part of the project "Strengthening the mental health of middle school students through building and operating a school counseling room", sponsored and implemented by GNI and Gyeonggido Province, Korea.

The topic focused on improving students' mental health for children in middle schools through the prism of action and mindset from their close adults like parents or teachers.

Experts and parents at the virtual meeting room. Photo: GNI

GNI Project Coordinator Le Thu Trang shared that GNI is sponsoring and supporting the operation of 4 school consultation rooms of junior high schools under the 3C model: Competent - Certified - (in) Charge. During 6 months of operation, the consultation room has approached and supported more than 600 different consultation cases via both face-to-face and online platforms. Most of the problems are related to relationship issues, generational divides, or miscommunication between parents and children.

GNI is sponsoring and supporting the operation of 4 school consultation rooms of junior high schools under the 3C model. Photo: GNI

GNI wants to send an important message that "The success of an education is to create a happy person. Hopefully in the process of accompanying children, they will grow up and become happy people".

Experts' analysis on parent and teenagers relationship

Dr. Hoang Trung Trung - Head of the Department of Psychology - Education, Academy of Education Management shared at the seminar many interesting topics when discussing relationships, conflicts, and characteristics. From the psychological aspect, he has witnessed families who experienced issues when the children enter their teenage years.

Dr. Hoang Trung Trung - Head of the Department of Psychology - Education, Academy of Education Management. Photo: GNI

"Children that age need to be respected, understood, like respected for their privacy. They want to prove themselves. These are absolutely the right needs. However, the way of affirmation is sometimes rigid, and with strong emotions. If parents do not understand, it is easy to cause controversy and conflict." he said.

Dr. Hoc also said that during the Covid-19 epidemic, parents need to pay attention to social networks and games. Because according to his survey, the current situation of cyberbullying behaviors are getting more serious. Cyberbullying can be divided into two groups. The first group is Invasion of privacy and mental violence (accounting for 15%); the second group is Sexual harassment and online fraud (accounting for 10%). Hence, parents need to spend time with their children, listen to them, play with them, and create a relaxed environment for themselves and their children.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thanh Thanh An, a school counselor, nowadays, conflicts and miscommunication between children and parents happen frequently. One of the reasons for conflicts is that parents have not empowered their children, have not been honest with their children, showed them that they encouragement and trust.

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Thanh An, a school counselor shared at the seminar. Photo: GNI

"The school counseling room with the function of a heart is always ready to listen and understand the thoughts and concerns, to help students overcome difficulties," said An.

Parents share healthy discipline strategy

Parent of a student at Le Quy Don Secondary School (Hanoi) Nguyen Thanh Nhan. Photo: GNI

Guests were able discuss how to constructively discipline modern teens, how to talk to teens about sensitive subjects, how to deal with children playing too many online games, and other important parenting topics. In addition, the discussion also answered the audience's questions sent to the program.

As a parent of a student at Le Quy Don Secondary School (Hanoi) Nguyen Thanh Nhan also shared her son's story. She is concerned that her son plays games all the time and he has already had crushes on his friends when he is supposed to focus on school. She also hoped that all parents consider their children as friends, and they always love, connect, accompany, connect, give children the best choices. It is best to respect children's opinions and to help them understand how to lead a meaningful, healthy life.

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