A doctor is providing consultation on mental health care for a teenage patient. According to a recent survey, one in five adolescents face a issue. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Many children, adolescents and
young people struggle with mental health challenges while lacking the essential
coping skills, support or services critical to their overall well-being,
according to the latest result of the National Adolescent Mental Health survey.
The survey showed that one in five adolescents face a mental
health issue, with only 8.4% able to access necessary support services or
counselling for emotional and behavioural challenges.
Only 5.1% of parents recognised that their adolescent child needed
help for emotional and behavioural problems.
In Vietnam, the rate of 10 common mental disorders is 14.9% of the
population, but anyone can suffer from , at least at some
point, according to doctor Tran Van Thuan.
UNICEF is calling for enhanced mental health strategies to support
the young generation in Vietnam as part of 2023.
Mental health has been identified as a matter of concern by young
people themselves. Earlier this year, UNICEF Vietnam consulted its network of
young people (U-report) on the issue of greatest concern to the population
UNICEF serves: children, adolescents and young people.
The majority of participants selected ‘mental health’, appealing
for stronger attention and support, asking UNICEF to dedicate World Children’s
Day 2023 to championing their mental well-being.
Representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers congratulated the
Vietnamese Government on its current efforts to develop a comprehensive mental
health strategy.
“UNICEF encourages a specific focus on early intervention,
introducing relevant strategies and interventions specifically designed for
children and adolescents, that build skills and resilience and promote mental
wellbeing,” said Flowers.
“Children and adolescents, parents and teachers need to be
equipped with skills, knowledge and resources to enjoy and promote mental
well-being,” she said.
“It is essential that all of us – parents, teachers, social
workers, health workers, government and private sector — work to de-stigmatise
mental health, understand how the experience and response for girls and boys
may differ, and actively and persistently promote mental well-being approaches
and strategies to strengthen the prevention of serious risks in this area,” she
added.
Starting on November 20, which marks the anniversary of the coming
into force of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a communication
campaign was launched to deliver mental health-related information and positive
approaches.
Named “Open Up & Connect”, this campaign will run until
December 11 – UNICEF’s 77th anniversary — providing tips, resources and
creative ideas, as well as information on learning how to better identify when
a friend, daughter, son, student or oneself are struggling.
Quick tips and activities will provide coping strategies as well
as encourage all to open up and connect with others – a friend, parent, teacher
— who can provide support.
“Mental health is just as normal and important as our physical health.
It is critical that this is addressed at all levels – at home, at school, in
communities and by government – to ensure that the National Mental Health
Strategy that the Government of Vietnam is working on has a specific focus on
children and adolescents,” she said.
To promote mental well-being, UNICEF Vietnam will organise an
event on November 28 in Hanoi where experts from several ministries and
academia will analyse the national mental health situation of children and
adolescents, and share ideas and lessons learnt in support of a dynamic and
child/adolescent sensitive national strategy.
Importantly, the participants will learn about concerns and ideas
to promote mental well-being directly from young people, as well as from
outcomes of the ‘Hackathon Competition 2023’ taking place in Da Nang city until
November 26.
Children and youth participation is a core principle of the CRC
and UNICEF says it is committed to engaging the population that it serves in
activities and discussions on areas that matter to them and will impact their
lives./.
Source: VietnamPlus
