CMU Minds: Mental Health is as essential as Physical Health
Mental Health is highly important to students’ quality of life, as well as academic efficiency. University often brings new changes, including adapting to a new environment, forging new friendships, and facing the pressure to succeed academically. Without proper care and support, these challenges can cause stress and mental health problems. Not only does it affect academic life but also affects the well-being of students and eventually decreases the ability to join activities throughout the year. Hence, getting access to consulting or any kind of service which allows Chiang Mai (CMU) students to understand oneself can strengthen their mental well-being and enable students to handle various matters more effectively. In addition to supporting student well-being, Chiang Mai University (CMU) also prioritizes the mental health of its staff, recognizing that their psychological well-being is essential to fostering a healthy, supportive, and productive working environment and driving the university’s continued development.
CMU Minds
The Chiang Mai University Mental Health Center is dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental well-being of Chiang Mai University students and staff. The center provides free psychological counseling services, along with psychological self-assessment tools designed to help individuals check their emotional well-being, better understand their feelings, and identify appropriate options for further support. These services are designed to empower students and staff to take better care of their mental health and cope effectively with challenges in their personal, academic, and professional lives.
Support can be accessed through CMU Minds’ online platforms. For those who have completed an initial self-assessment and would like to receive one-on-one counseling, the Sukjai Center, located at the Chiang Mai University Health Center (Phai Lom Center), also provides free counseling services for students and staff. The entire process will remain confidential unless there is an indication of an intention to harm oneself or others. The service is available on Monday – Friday from 08:00 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. and on public holidays from 08:00 A.M. to 04:00 P.M.
CMU Minds Community
In addition to the central CMU Minds service, mental health support is also available through dedicated units across 13 faculties at Chiang Mai University. Students and staff do not need to belong to the respective faculty to access these services. Each unit follows a systematic process for providing support and, when necessary, referring individuals to appropriate services. Confidentiality and the protection of personal information are also prioritized throughout the process to ensure that everyone can access mental health support in a safe and supportive environment.
Strengthening mental well-being Activities
SDD CMU x Agro CMU: Heal Jai 2nd
On September 11, 2025, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M, CMU Minds, in collaboration with the faculty of Agro-Industry, organized a booth featuring a variety of activities designed to promote mental well-being among CMU students. The activities provided students with opportunities to check in on their mental well-being, engage in enjoyable activities to refresh and reset their moods, and gain a better understanding of themselves. In addition, the booth featured “CMU Sport for All,” which offered body composition assessments to help students better understand their physical health and overall well-being.
Warm Your Mind, Happy Heart
On Wednesday, December 24th, 2025, psychologists from CMU Minds, together with the Physical Health Team under the Student Development Division, Chiang Mai University, hosted a workshop booth featuring a heart-warming self-care activity to welcome the upcoming New Year. The activity was held for students and staff of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, at the faculty’s Co-working Space. The Self-Care Toolkit Station by the CMU Minds psychologists offered a variety of warm and comforting mini activities designed to nurture mental well-being, including Strength Mascot in a Snow Globe, Bad Day Kit, Act of Kindness Note, and Healing Card.
Mental Health and Mental Disorders
On Sunday, December 21st, 2025, psychologists from CMU Minds collaborated with Entaneer Mind Friend, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, to organize an activity under the topic “Mental Health and Mental Disorders.” The activity was conducted with student club representatives from the Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University. The program consisted of a lecture combined with an interactive activity, including a simulated patient interview, aimed at enhancing understanding of mental health and mental disorders.
CMU Minds x Valentine’s Day 2025
On February 14, 2025, CMU Minds organized a series of interactive activities at the Chiang Mai University Food Center to encourage students to explore self-love, relationships, and holistic well-being. The activities encouraged students to explore love, self-awareness, and relationships through fortune-telling, reflective card activities, creative expression, self-reflection, relationship awareness, and psychological-based relationship assessments. In addition, the event promoted physical health and self-care through health-related activities. CMU Good to Give provided a space for students to share good-condition university uniforms with other CMU students, while the M-Plus Foundation offered one-stop services and information related to HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Through these activities, CMU Minds aimed to create a safe and engaging space for students to learn more about themselves, understand different forms of love and relationships, and recognize the importance of caring for both their physical and mental well-being.
The event also featured other activities aimed at encouraging students to engage with and better understand their mental health, including promotional videos created by students as part of the MIND HOME Project.
CMU Minds Booth Activities at 2025 First Meet, First Step
On June 21st - 22nd, 2025, CMU Minds organized booth activities for first-year students at Lan Sangkeet, Chiang Mai University. The activities introduced students to available mental health support services and assessment tools, as well as featured the “Say Something Good to Yourself” activity, encouraging students to share positive and supportive messages with themselves.
Capacity Development Program Toward Excellence for Academic and Support Staff
On April 27th, 2026, from 09:30 to 10:50 A.M, at Green Lake Resort Chiang Mai, CMU Minds psychologist team conducted an activity for staff from Chiang Mai University Demonstration School (kindergarten and primary levels) under the theme, “Recharge & Refresh: Managing Stress, Re-energizing the Mind, and Preventing Workplace Burnout.” The session provided participants with an opportunity to understand burnout, explore the factors that contribute to it, and assess their own level of work-related burnout. Participants also learned practical self-care techniques through activities such as the “Self-care wheel,” breathing exercises, and grounding practices. Moreover, the team shared the guidance on how to seek support while overcoming personal biases.
Throughout 2025 and early 2026, CMU Minds organized activities to promote mental health and overall well-being among students and staff across Chiang Mai University. These initiatives aim to ensure that no one is overlooked by providing accessible mental health consultations and support services. Through early intervention and ongoing support, CMU Minds seeks to prevent mental health challenges from escalating and reduce their potential long-term impact on individuals’ well-being.
Source:
- CMU Minds-CMU Mental Health Center [Facebook]