To help the Class of 2026 freshmen adapt to university life at an early stage and establish a correct outlook on mental health, Hainan International College held a special mental health lecture as part of the "Dual New Education" series on September 15, 2026. Wei LUO, Deputy Secretary of the Directly Affiliated Party Branch and Vice Dean of the College, all counselors, and all freshmen of the Class of 2026 attended the lecture. The event was presided over by Feng GUAN, Secretary of the Directly Affiliated Youth League Branch of the College, and delivered by Zixuan MA, full-time psychological counselor from the University Student Psychological Development and Guidance Center.
The lecture kicked off with the interactive game "Stand Up If…". Centering on the daily scenarios of freshmen, the interactive session enabled students to break the ice rapidly, eliminate estrangement and build emotional resonance through mutual interaction.
Subsequently, the lecture was structured around four modules: mental health and self-development, emotion recognition and regulation, psychological characteristics of college students, and psychological resources and help-seeking. It elaborated on the core connotation of mental health, and noted that physical and mental well-being serves as an important foundation for pursuing ideals and establishing sound interpersonal and collective relationships. In the session on emotion management, the speaker explained the intrinsic correlation among emotion, cognition and behavior, guiding students to identify, accept and relieve emotions in a scientific manner. Simple and practical emotion regulation strategies were also introduced, including emotion journaling, the 4‑7‑8 breathing technique, and physical exercise for mood adjustment.
Drawing on the psychological developmental characteristics of young people aged 18‑25, the lecture analyzed typical psychological phenomena such as the "imaginary audience", "personal fable" and "label‑based self‑exploration". It guided students to view external evaluations dialectically and perceive themselves as well as others from a developmental perspective.
Against the backdrop of the information age, the lecturer reminded students to enhance their critical‑thinking capacity and maintain inner stability when confronted with massive and complex online information. In light of the college’s international‑oriented schooling positioning, students were guided to embrace diverse cultures and viewpoints with rational reception and prudent expression.
Subsequently, the lecture highlighted on‑campus and off‑campus psychological support resources, publicized the 24‑hour psychological assistance hotline and appointment channels for psychological counseling of Northeast Forestry University, and encouraged students to take an active part in mental‑health‑related activities. The lecturer also placed special emphasis on the boundaries of peer help among students. She noted that listening and companionship constitute feasible acts of kindness within one’s capacity; nevertheless, timely access to professional help represents the responsible and protective approach for all parties concerned.
Following the lecture, the college distributed feedback questionnaires on‑site to gather students’ perceptions and suggestions, so as to provide references for the continuous improvement of mental‑health education.
Mental‑health education constitutes an important component of the college’s talent‑development initiatives. From military training to classroom learning, and from initial unfamiliarity to growing familiarity, every step of university life is accompanied by inner psychological growth. This warm and in‑depth mental‑health lecture serves as the college’s first gift of growth for new students. Going forward, the college together with all faculty and students will make joint efforts to further diversify the forms and content of mental‑health education, respond promptly to students’ practical needs, and accompany students throughout their journey toward personal and academic success.
May every new student of Hainan International College learn to attend to their inner self. On the journey of embarking upon a new chapter of university life, they shall start from within and embrace a better version of themselves.
