These days, Ho Chi Minh City is struggling to cope with the complicated daily developments of the Covid-19 epidemic; It seems that our lives have all been affected, turned upside down a lot. With school closures and cancelled events, as well as every day moments like chatting with friends, all of us are missing out on some of the biggest moments of our young lives. There will even be unexpected confrontation when unfortunately becoming an infected person. Understanding the anxiety when dealing with these sudden changes, Ho Chi Minh City Open University organized a series of psychology seminars "Take care of mental health during the Covid-19 epidemic". A series of seminars was expected to support and take care of the officials and students mental health during days of social distancing under the complicated outbreak.

Seminar 1 with the topic "Positive thinking - Spiritual vaccine in the pandemic" was held online on August 26, 2021, via zoom and was livestreamed on the Fanpage of Department of Student Affairs - Ho Chi Minh City Open University and Fanpage Ao Xanh OU. The event has received attention of many students with nearly 8,000 approaches. MA. Tran Thi Thanh Tra and MA. Phan Thi Mai Quyen - Lecturers of the Faculty of Sociology-Social Work-SEAS were the two speakers hosting and consulting throughout the event. You can re-watch it at Fanpage: Department of Student Affairs – Ho Chi Minh City Open University.

Dr. Le Nguyen Quoc Khang, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City Open University attended and delivered the opening speech. He shared: “During the past time, HCMCOU has organized and developed many programs to take care and support staff, officials as well as students in difficulty. Especially in the context that Ho Chi Minh City is tightening social distancing measures, maintaining mental health is extremely necessary to overcome this pandemic."

Sharing with students in terms of coping with psychological disorders under pressure and crisis induced by the Covid-19 pandemic, MSc. Phan Thi Mai Quyen gave advice and instructions to students on how to control their moods so as not to affect their physical and mental well-being. “When we can't change a situation, change our receptive attitude towards it. Besides actively preparing ourselves with the essential skills, the University's psychological counseling center is always ready to help you at any time, at https://www.facebook.com/vanphongthamvanOUHCM”.

Participating in the program, the students had the opportunity to open their hearts and share, listen to useful consulting and encouragement from the speakers of the event. MA. Tran Thi Thanh Tra shared “Take action immediately. Take initiative to take care of yourself, actively load up on “positive vitamins” every day, connect to love and express gratitude towards others, spread positivity and be well-prepared for life’s unpredictable moments.”

The warmest sharing during a 3-hour event is the inspiring message from students who have recovered after Covid-19 treatment to the audience watching the program: exercising regularly, sticking with healthy habits as well as strictly following the 5K principle so not to be infected; and when unfortunately becoming positive for Covid-19, stay calm and optimistic to fight against it.

At the end of the program, the secrets to positive mood regulation were summed up by the 2 speakers based on many methods that have been and are being mentioned by a number of psychological counseling centers/groups and community projects in the current period such as the Psycare project of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, the F0 volunteer project to support F0, the Health - Psychological - Legal Support project of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union support center, …:

• Loading up on “positive vitamins” every day: Be honest with your feelings to listen to your inner self, improve self-knowledge and accompany your own journey; Exercise moderately consistent with your health as well as have a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle; Do the things you love; smile more and express gratitude towards others.
• Connect to love. Spending time hanging with friends and lecturers; Show your family love and care; Build a regular and positive communication plan.
• Spread positivity: Read wisely, selective listening; support each other in learning; Help others within your capability; Take part in volunteer activity if appropriate.
• Last but not least, be well-prepared for physical and mental health, cultivate learning.

With prompt and drastic measures of the Government, as well as the positive energies that are being spread in everyday life, it is a motivation for us to believe and hope in a very near future, the Covid-19 epidemic will soon be under control, so that our life will soon back to normal./.