MAKASSAR – Mental health is not a fixed state. A person’s condition can change with their experiences, pressures, and the support they receive. For this reason, protecting mental health is an ongoing process and a shared concern, including at Hasanuddin University (Unhas).
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as well-being that helps a person cope with the stresses of life, develop their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to the community. This means mental health is directly tied to campus life, whether in learning, work, social relationships, or participation in academic activities.
Students face academic demands and the adjustments of adult life, while lecturers and education staff also carry their own workloads and responsibilities. An article in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (2022), presenting a systematic review and meta-analysis of university students, reported that symptoms of depression and anxiety were fairly common in the populations studied. This should serve as a reminder that psychological difficulties deserve attention and should not be seen as personal problems to be borne alone.
That message emerged in a Sharing Session titled “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Changes,” part of the Mental Health Day 2026 series. Speaker Dwiana Fajriati Dewi invited participants to understand mental health as a continuum, a range of conditions that can move from less good toward more stable. Understanding this change helps a person recognize their own needs, while reducing the notion that mental health only needs to be discussed when someone is in crisis.
Care can begin with everyday habits. Dwiana said that light physical activity, quality sleep, rest time, and nutritious food can support well-being. Physical activity does not always have to be strenuous or long for a person to start moving. WHO also summarizes evidence that physical activity is linked to better mental health, cognitive function, and sleep quality.
Attention should also be paid to how a person talks to themselves. A habit of excessive self-blame can add to the burden of coping with pressure. Dwiana encouraged participants to practice more supportive self-talk, even though this is not always easy.
“Self-acceptance, autonomy in making choices, personal growth, and purpose in life are also part of the well-being that needs to be nurtured,” said Dwiana.
On campus, care can be expressed through mutually respectful relationships, healthy boundaries, and a willingness to listen without rushing to judge. Such support is not a substitute for professional help when needed, but it can help a person feel safe to share their difficulties and seek help.
In the Art Therapy and Screening Session, Syafirah Nadhrah Mustamin reminded participants that sadness, anxiety, fear, and doubt are part of the human experience that needs to be acknowledged. Mustamin invited those present to learn from the past and plan for the future without losing attention to what they are feeling now.
“As a way of dividing your attention, use 60 percent for living in the present, 20 percent for planning the future, and 20 percent for learning lessons from the past,” said Syarifah.
The Mental Health Day 2026 series, held on Saturday, 10 October 2026, provides a space for the academic community to recognize their own condition, understand emotional experiences, and learn simple steps for caring for mental health. Care takes practice and ongoing awareness, while a supportive environment can be an important part of that process. (*/dhs/ir)
Editor : Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.