Kuala
\nLumpur, Malaysia (26 March 2026)<\/b>\u00a0As mental health challenges continue to rise globally, the need for
\nwell-trained professionals, accessible services, and scalable solutions has
\nbecome increasingly urgent. In Asia, this gap is particularly pronounced, where
\ndemand for mental health support is growing faster than the systems designed to
\nmeet it.<\/p>\n
Recent data
\nhighlights the scale of the issue. In China, lifetime prevalence rates for
\nmental health conditions remain significant, including anxiety (7.6%),
\ndepression (6.8%), and dementia (5.6%). The number of potentially mentally ill
\nadults has increased steadily over the past decades, reaching approximately 240
\nmillion in 2024.<\/p>\n
However, access
\nto care remains limited. Only 9.5% of individuals in China who require mental
\nhealth support seek or receive treatment, compared to 19% in
\nupper-middle-income countries and 70% in high-income countries. This gap is
\nfurther compounded by a shortage of trained professionals, with just 3.5
\npsychiatrists per 100,000 population \u2014 a figure significantly lower than
\ncountries such as Japan (11.9) and the United States (45).<\/p>\n
These
\nchallenges are not unique to China but reflect broader regional trends,
\nincluding low awareness of mental health conditions, persistent social stigma,
\nand a mismatch between supply and demand of qualified practitioners.<\/p>\n
In response to
\nthese growing needs, HELP University has partnered with Good Mood, a
\ntechnology-driven digital mental health group based in China, to strengthen
\nmental health education and professional counselling training across the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
Rather than
\nfocusing solely on service delivery, the collaboration places education and
\ncapacity-building at its core. The initiative will focus on developing the next
\ngeneration of mental health professionals through academic programmes,
\nstructured counselling training, and skills development for psychological
\nservice providers, alongside opportunities for international academic exchange.<\/p>\n
A key component
\nof the collaboration involves the joint development of professional upskilling
\nprogrammes tailored for medical and mental health practitioners. These
\nprogrammes will cover essential competencies such as active listening, crisis
\ncounselling, grief support, and mental health management. Designed across
\nmultiple tiers, the training will integrate online learning, AI-enabled tools,
\nand assessment frameworks to ensure both accessibility and quality.<\/p>\n
By combining
\nHELP University\u2019s academic expertise in psychology and counselling with Good
\nMood\u2019s large-scale digital platform, the collaboration seeks to bridge the gap
\nbetween theory and practice, while expanding access to mental health education
\nin a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.<\/p>\n
Good Mood
\ncurrently operates one of the largest integrated digital mental health
\nplatforms in China, with a network of approximately 70,000 psychiatrists and
\nneurologists and over 13 million registered users as of 2025. The platform
\nfacilitates more than 3 million online service visits annually, underscoring
\nthe growing role of digital technologies in addressing gaps in mental
\nhealthcare access.<\/p>\n
Professor Datuk
\nDr Paul Chan, Chancellor of HELP University, said the collaboration is an
\nimportant step in strengthening the global ecosystem for mental health
\neducation and technology-enabled healthcare innovation. He noted that mental
\nhealth is one of the defining challenges of our time and emphasised that
\neducation must serve humanity by strengthening both intellectual capability and
\nhuman well-being.<\/p>\n
He added that
\nthe partnership brings together academic excellence and technological
\ninnovation to develop new models of education, professional training, and
\nAI-supported mental health services, while expanding training into areas such
\nas digital health management and integrated healthcare systems.<\/p>\n
Chen Guanwei,
\nChief Executive Officer of Good Mood, added that the collaboration aligns with
\nthe organisation\u2019s broader vision of expanding mental health capabilities
\nthrough innovation and education.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough this
\npartnership, we aim to strengthen talent development, enhance professional
\ntraining, and contribute to a more connected and responsive mental health
\necosystem. Education and technology must work together to meet the scale of
\ntoday\u2019s challenges,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
As mental
\nhealth continues to gain global attention, collaborations that prioritise
\neducation, professional development, and innovation will play a critical role
\nin shaping more resilient and inclusive healthcare systems.<\/p>\n