Perceptions of Mental Illness Among University Students in Vietnam: A Quantitative Research

The process of modernization, as well as rapid changes in society, have had a significant impact on people's mental health. As a developing country, Vietnam also faces serious mental health problems. According to the Vietnam Ministry of Health (2023), about 14 million Vietnamese are suffering from mental disorders. Many people also face stigma, discrimination and human rights violations. Mental health undoubtedly presents significant challenges to public health and development concerns, making it essential to enhance awareness of mental illness, particularly among the youth. Therefore, the current study aimed to determine levels of knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards mental illness among university students in Vietnam. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from June to July 2024. Data were collected using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire distributed to 450 undergraduate students from various universities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The previous validated Attitudes to Mental Illness Questionnaire was used. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to examine relationships between variables. The findings of the research will serve as a basic for the development of educational initiatives aimed at increasing mental health awareness and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness among students.