Whether a college student is well-rounded is no longer measured solely by moral, intellectual, and physical development. Increasingly, universities are incorporating mental health into their criteria for assessing student quality. It can be said that mental health has become a mandatory subject for college students. The recently held Second International Forum on Mental Health Education for College Students in Guangzhou focused specifically on addressing mental health issues among university students.
On November 7, the Second International Forum on Mental Health Education for College Students took place at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in Guangzhou.Over 300 experts from more than ten countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong, participated in the conference.
Guided by the principles of "exchange, innovation, and development," the forum centered on the theme "Localization and Innovation in Mental Health Education and Counseling for College Students," emphasizing localized approaches and innovative development.
Organized by the Guangdong Provincial Expert Steering Committee for University Student Mental Health Education and the Guangdong Provincial Professional Committee for University Mental Health Education and Counseling, the forum was co-hosted by the Guangzhou University Town and Surrounding Areas University Student Cultural Quality Education Base, and hosted by Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. It received strong support from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education and the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League.
Over three days of discussions and exchanges, the forum will feature 14 keynote presentations—including talks by Kirk Schneider, Vice President of the American Academy of Existential-Humanistic Psychology and a leading figure in contemporary existential-humanistic psychology, and Philippe Colin-Madan, Chairman of the Central Medical Committee of the French Student Health Foundation—alongside eight in-forum workshops.
Additionally, participants will engage in diverse discussions through sub-forums and roundtable sessions on topics including innovative models for mental health education among Chinese and international students, localization and internationalization of psychological counseling research, enhancement of positive psychological qualities, psychological crisis intervention, cultivation of psychological resilience and innovative spirit, career guidance and entrepreneurship education, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-cultural exchange.
It is understood that to ensure the long-term and standardized development of this cause, the forum will establish a dedicated "International Forum Collaboration Association for University Student Psychological Education and Counseling."