Save the Children Vietnam launches peer support model for student mental health

Save the Children Vietnam has introduced the ‘I support my friend’ model to address the increasing mental health challenges faced by students. The initiative aims to equip students with the skills to recognize, listen to, and connect peers in psychological distress with appropriate professional support, rather than attempting to act as experts themselves.

This model has been piloted in schools within Lao Cai and Ho Chi Minh City with positive results. It seeks to create a safe, friendly, and emotionally supportive school environment while working to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health. The program addresses gaps in current school psychological support systems, which often suffer from a lack of specialized training and dedicated facilities.