3.3.7. Mental health support for staff

Within the framework of sustainable development strategy and commitment to implementing 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming for a diverse, fair, non-discriminatory working environment, creating equal opportunities for employees and workers to affirm their self-worth and develop personally, UEH has officially “Implementing human resource policies in line with the 17 SDGs”,in which the mental health of officials and civil servants is identified as an important pillar.

On that policy basis, in 2024, UEH Union – Unit representing employees, civil servants, public employees, workers and other laborers to protect the legitimate rights and interests of laborers 

UEH provides health care consultation, dispenses medicine at the school health station, and organizes health check-ups for employees.twice a year(1st time: general examination in June 2024; 2nd time: examination for female VC-NLĐ in December 2024) at some proposed medical partners: Hoa Hao Medical Company Limited, Kim Cuong Quality of Life Company Limited (Diamond Clinic), Community Health Care Center (CHAC), and Military Hospital 175, along with other medical facilities as selected. UEH officers support for health examination costs according to each health check-up package, classified by gender, age and marital status.Health StationUEH support health examination results and advice for officials and employees. (Source: Health examination plan for 2024)

UEH organized Many practical, free activities to support and take care of employees’ health: from programs and workshops for employees, to art performances, gender equality workshops, teacher-staff appreciation programs, and internal research on stress and work performance.In addition, UEH also has a mechanism for introducing (signposting) employees to medical facilities and professional psychological counseling centers for a fee when there is a need for specialized services.

Ms. Tran Van Hanh – CEO of Ytech Company Limited shared about how to help each individual proactively manage their health and prevent strokes at home, and introduced the Doctor Oi App for UEH employees to use to monitor their health at home.Health Screening Program in Stroke Prevention

Besides, UEH Human Resources and Organizational Development Department (HOD) has implemented and deployed many recruitment, planning, appointment, reward decisions… based on individual achievements, regardless of gender, age, skin color, marital status, ethnic origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, culture, beliefs or social status.

These activities are not only about morale but also about outreach, education, prevention and empowerment of staff.

Activities	Object	Describe	Results/Impact
Seminar “Improving capacity to identify and care for mental health”	UEHers Community (lecturers, officials, staff, workers, students)	The seminar helps UEH students and staff become familiar with the concepts of psychology and mental health, as well as better understand the signs to watch out for from the onset stage, and at the same time equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to care for and maintain healthy mental health.In addition, participants also have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the symptoms and causes of stress or mental illnesses such as anxiety disorders and depression. Thereby, improving the ability to manage emotions through prevention, protection and maintenance of healthy mental health such as relaxation exercises.	Nearly 900 UEH students and staff attended directly. UEH staff and students are listened to and understand better the concepts and signs of mental health. Students proactively improve their emotional management skills and maintain mental health.
Starting Acrylic Painting Workshop Series at UEH	UEHers Community (lecturers, staff, officers, students)	The workshop is organized with the aim of inspiring creativity, inspiring art and creating a relaxing space after stressful working and studying hours to balance life, recharge energy to start a new working week for the community. The workshop is also a place to share and exchange experiences, creating an artistic space and building a sustainable UEH community.	Encourage staff and students to express their emotions through art, aiming to reduce stress and increase creativity. Create a healthy space, awaken positive energy
UEH organizes training course “Happy Lecturer – Happy University”	UEH staff and employees	Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics (UEH) has successfully organized the training course “Happy Lecturer – Happy University” with the goal of building an ideal working environment, where teachers not only impart knowledge but also feel satisfied and happy. (See Notification and certificate of completion)	attracted more than 30 officials and workers to participate and were granted certificates of completion. UEH officers and employees have received practical core values, helping to improve the quality of life and work performance.
Series of activities to celebrate International Women’s Day March 8	Female civil servants and employees of UEH	Organize a health screening program to prevent stroke and honor the contributions of UEH female staff and workers to the School, encourage female staff to take care of their mental health, balance work and life through congratulating, giving flowers and gifts to units with female union members. Health screening program for female civil servants UEH congratulates, gives flowers and gifts to female employees and workers
New Year greetings from the Party Committee, University Council and Board of Directors of UEH	UEH staff and employees	Sending New Year greetings has been a tradition.Encouraging staff morale, emphasizing “health and well-being” as core values. The activity demonstrates the leadership’s concern for staff’s mental health, contributing to strengthening a humane working environment.	Strengthening confidence and positive spirit among UEH staff
Conduct research on factors that impact employee mental health	All UEH staff	Through two studies Research on the Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Commitment of Bank Employees to the Organization and Internal Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Employee Performance, UEH is concerned with employees’ ability to balance work and life, safety and well-being at work, resilience and stress reduction at work. The results of these studies are used to adjust human resource policies to create an inclusive working environment that contributes to motivating them to pursue organizational strategies, including sustainable development strategies. In addition, this is also a channel to popularize psychological knowledge and emotional capacity in the workplace, demonstrating the orientation of improving mental health through understanding and self-management of emotions.	Building a theoretical model of ‘Sustainable Performance’ based on the pillars of mental health and internal responsibility Promote the development of new policies on Work-life Balance
Series of Cultural – Artistic and Sports Activities	All UEH staff	Organize major events regularly:  UEH Staff and Employee Art Performance 2024: Internal cultural activities to strengthen cohesion, reduce stress, create a healthy entertainment space. Encourage creativity, self-expression and maintain a positive spirit. Cultural exchange program – welcoming International Children’s Day 1/6: UEH organizes art programs connecting employees and their families, helping staff balance work and life, enhancing emotional and spiritual bonds.
Gratitude to Teachers at UEH	Lecturer, former lecturer, official, former UEH official	UEH pays tribute to generations of teachers, connects the community of employees and former employees, emphasizes the role of mental health and maintains connections to create a sustainable community through 2 meetings on the occasion of Vietnamese Teachers’ Day November 20 at UEH Ho Chi Minh City Campus and Vinh Long Campus Meeting between generations of teachers at UEH HCMC campus Teachers and alumni from different periods took souvenir photos after the meeting.	Nearly 1,500 former UEH lecturers and lecturers attended the meeting at 2 campuses. Strengthening solidarity and intergenerational connection
Granting retirement decisions to officials of age	Officials and workers about to retire	UEH organized a solemn gratitude ceremony to recognize the contributions of teachers and staff, creating spiritual motivation and attachment after work: UEH grants retirement decisions to employees reaching retirement age	In 2024, UEH awarded a total  AAA retirement decision for employees approaching retirement age. Help employees feel respected and support the psychological transition to retirement.

In 2024, UEH will not only stop at single events but will maintain policies, benefits and systematization by linking SDGs policies into human resource management models, expanding the scale and diversifying forms of spiritual support, and quantifying results through internal surveys and reports.

Activities organized to care for the lives and mental health of UEH’s lecturers, staff, and employees are more specialized — such as a sustainable mental health care program that focuses on stress recognition, mindfulness, and psychological support — rather than just cultural exchanges or regular anniversary events. Furthermore, UEH also focuses on reaching out and being inclusive to all types of employees: from female employees, employees with small families, people preparing to retire, to gender-diverse employees.

Open related links:

1. Implementing human resource policies in line with the 17 SDGs”: https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/trien-khai-cac-chinh-sach-nguon-nhan-luc-gan-voi-17-sdgs-huong-toi-no-luc-dong-gop-tri-luc-cho-muc-tieu-phat-trien-ben-vung-73312

2. UEH Union: https://congdoan.ueh.edu.vn/

3. Health Screening Program in Stroke Prevention: https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/chuoi-hoat-dong-chao-mung-ky-niem-114-nam-ngay-quoc-te-phu-nu-8-3-71490

4. UEH Human Resources and Organizational Development Department (HOD): https://hod.ueh.edu.vn/

5. Seminar “Improving capacity to identify and care for mental health”: https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/cham-soc-va-phat-trien-suc-khoe-tam-than-ben-vung-tu-nhan-dien-den-hanh-dong-tai-ueh-72485

6. Starting Acrylic Painting Workshop Series at UEH:

https://www.ueh.edu.vn/en/news/starting-the-acrylic-painting-workshop-series-at-ueh-71882

7. UEH organizes training course “Happy Lecturer – Happy University”: https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/ueh-to-chuc-khoa-boi-duong-giang-vien-hanh-phuc-dai-hoc-hanh-phuc-75040

8. Series of activities to celebrate International Women’s Day March 8: https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/chuoi-hoat-dong-chao-mung-ky-niem-114-nam-ngay-quoc-te-phu-nu-8-3-71490

10. New Year greetings from the Party Committee, University Council and Board of Directors of UEH: https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/thu-chuc-tet-tu-dang-uy-hoi-dong-dai-hoc-va-ban-giam-doc-dai-hoc-kinh-te-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-71339

11. Research on the Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Commitment of Bank Employees to the Organization: 

https://www.ueh.edu.vn/en/news/podcast-the-relationship-between-emotional-intelligence-and-bank-employees-commitment-to-the-organization-71859

12. Research on “Internal social responsibility and sustainable employee performance”: https://future.ueh.edu.vn/en/chi-tiet-knowlege/research-contribution-internal-corporate-social-responsibility-and-sustainable-employee-performance/

13. UEH Staff and Employee Art Performance 2024: https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/hoi-dien-van-nghe-vien-chuc-nguoi-lao-dong-ueh-2024-bung-no-va-tron-ven-cam-xuc-71839

14. Cultural exchange program – welcoming International Children’s Day 1/6: https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/cong-doan-ueh-to-chuc-chuong-trinh-giao-luu-van-nghe-chao-mung-ngay-quoc-te-thieu-nhi-01-6-71933

15. Ho Chi Minh City Campus: https://www.ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/ky-niem-42-nam-ngay-nha-giao-viet-nam-tri-an-va-ket-noi-bao-the-he-thay-co-giao-ueh-72993

16. Vinh Long Campus: https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/ueh-vinh-long-to-chuc-hop-mat-ngay-nha-giao-viet-nam-20-11-hop-mat-cuu-hoc-vien-sinh-vien-ueh-vung-dong-bang-song-cuu-long-va-ra-mat-ban-lien-lac-cuu-hoc-vien-sinh-vien-ueh-tinh-vinh-long-72927

17. UEH grants retirement decisions to employees reaching retirement age: https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/ueh-trao-quyet-dinh-nghi-huu-cho-vien-chuc-den-tuoi-nghi-huu-73147