Medical workers give consultancy for a patient with a mental disorder at the Hanoi Mental Hospital. (Photo: tuoitre.vn)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – About 14 million people suffer from mental
disorders in Vietnam, but the country has only 143 clinical psychologists and
psychotherapists, the Suc khoe & doi song (Health & Life) newspaper
reported.
Moreover, clinical psychology services are not officially covered by health
insurance.
This was the message delivered at a conference on strengthening the capacity of
the mental healthcare system in the period of 2023-30, which was organised last
week by the Department of Medical Service Administration (DMSA).
Cao Hung Thai, deputy director of the DMSA, said that Vietnam was facing a
double-edge problem related to diseases.
Vietnam is feeling impacts due to a gradually ageing population and a high
proportion of people with neural disabilities, as well as the consequences of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
But compared to other industries, mental health receives less attention.
A survey last year by DMSA showed that 61.3%, or 398 out of 649, of district
hospitals organised outpatient medical examinations and treatment for mentally
ill patients.
However, only 9.1%, equivalent to 59 out of 649, of district-level hospitals
organised inpatient medical examinations and treatments for mentally ill
patients.
This result showed a big gap in mental disorder treatment.
Mental health services in Vietnam are mainly drug treatments. Mental
rehabilitation services are very limited, and there are no formal mental health
services for people affected by natural disasters, such as floods, droughts,
and epidemics including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like many countries in the world, Vietnam is facing an increasing number of
mental disorders.
According to a report by the National Psychiatric Hospital No 1, the rate of 10
common mental disorders in 2014 was 14.2%, of which depressive disorders
accounted for 2.45%.
The suicide rate in 2015 was 5.87 per 100,000 people.
The HCM City Paediatrics Hospital said that 8 to 20% of Vietnamese children and
adolescents have common mental health problems.
Research on other special groups in 2017 also showed that the rate of
depression during pregnancy is five% and postpartum depression is 8.2%.
The rate of depression in lung cancer patients was 24.6%.
Besides, the country holds misperceptions and social stigmas towards people
with mental illnesses.
Most people consider psychosis to be schizophrenia without knowing that
psychosis has many other forms such as depression, anxiety and alcohol-related
psychosis.
The stigmatisation of patients with mental illnesses and disorders has led to
refusing diagnoses and led to delays in treatment.
Most people do not receive mental health care.
Mental health services are mainly available at central and provincial hospitals
only.
At the district and commune levels, they mainly just treat schizophrenia and
epilepsy. A survey of the National Psychiatric Hospital No 1 showed that these
two diseases only account for about 0.5% of the population and the total number
of mental disorders.
Mental disorders affect 14.2% of the population.
It is estimated that 0.5% of other mental disorders are treated in specialised
hospitals, so over 90% of people with mental disorders have not received formal
services.
During the conference, experts discussed the project’s objectives such as
strengthening leadership and coordination between ministries and authorities at
all levels in mental health care.
They also discussed preventing mental disorders, management, rehabilitation and
social support for people with illnesses and disorders.
The discussion included strengthening the mental health system to provide
comprehensive and community-based health and social services./.
Source: VietnamPlus
