The Faculty of Psychology at Mercu Buana University Yogyakarta (UMBY) held a public lecture titled "Current Mental Health Issues in Southeast Asia: Integrating Science, Practice, and Global Challenges" on Monday (February 9, 2026). Held in the Auditorium of Campus 3, UMBY, the event was attended by all Master of Psychology and Professional Psychology Education students.

The Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at UMBY, Reny Yuniasanti, M.Psi., Ph.D., Psychologist, in her remarks emphasized that this event demonstrated the faculty's commitment to producing graduates who are aware of and responsible for mental health issues.

"We are committed to equipping students with a global perspective. This public lecture, featuring international speakers, provides a platform for students to explore different perspectives on global mental health issues," said Reny.

The public lecture featured Prof. Dr. Shazli Ezzat Hj. Ghazali, a speaker from the Malaysian Psychology Association (PSIMA). In her presentation, Prof. Prof. Shazli highlighted the importance of mental health in the modern era, fueled by increasing levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout due to the rapid pace of global development.

"Work pressure, excessive digital technology development, and social inequality and cultural differences can trigger stress," explained Prof. Shazli.

Nevertheless, Prof. Shazli emphasized that Southeast Asian cultures possess strong social capital for managing mental health. The role of family, community, and religious values ​​prevalent in society are considered important defenses.

Closing the session, Prof. Shazli summarized five key points: mental health is everyone's right, stress is a natural part of human life, culture is an inseparable part of everyday life, the importance of early prevention, and the role of psychology in building a strong society.

"Science, prevention and treatment practices, and policies are the keys to sustainable mental health," he concluded.