Peers' care combats stress

In China, where academic success is seen as pivotal to landing a decent job, the issue is particularly acute. In 2017, health authorities warned that suicide had become a leading cause of death among young people from 15 to 35 years old, with study stress a common factor.

To counter this, schools and colleges nationwide have launched a range of wellness initiatives, such as Tianjin University, which has offered academic credits to students who lose weight, according to a Xinhua News Agency report.

At the summit in South Africa late last month, Duke Kunshan undergraduate Hu says she realized that student-run organizations can play a major role in creating a healthy, caring environment on campus.

"I was in a group with students from Australia, Ireland and South Africa… who all shared their experiences in helping students deal with mental health issues. I could tell that they really cared about their peers, and not just on an academic level," she says.

"Hearing about the campaigns they organized, the data they collected and their promotional seminars gave me a new perspective on how to improve the lives of my peers. This is something I hadn't really paid attention to before."

Hu, from East China's Zhejiang province, says China has dedicated a lot of time and money to raising awareness about mental health issues, but more work is needed to ensure the message reaches schools and families. Stereotypes still affect the way society views people with mental illness, she says, and those who are suffering often lack the awareness to seek counselling.

"We see more and more news reports about teenagers committing suicide. Poor mental health is killing children as they chase their dreams," Hu adds.

The summit, now in its fourth year, is a global platform for the exchange of ideas on improving multicultural and intercultural communication and understanding, as well as other topics of mutual interest such as student governance, leadership and social justice.