Around 9 million Vietnamese people, or 10% of the country’s total population, suffer from mental problems, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The national conference on community-based social assistance and rehabilitation of people with mental disorders
The figure was announced at a national conference on community-based social assistance and rehabilitation of people with mental disorders held in Danang City on November 27-28. The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), with support from the Atlantic Philanthropies and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Among the number of 9 million, some 200,000 people were deemed to have schizophrenia; more than 2.4 million people are diagnosed with other serious mental disorders and the rest bears from diseases such as epilepsy, or brain injuries.
Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Pham Thi Hai Chuyen, said that around 200,000 people suffer from mental health issues, and some of them could be dangerous to their communities.
Currently, however, Vietnam lacks the expertise for proper diagnosis and treatment. It has been estimated that only 5% of health facilities can are capable of diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders.
The Prime Minister has approved the National Programme on Community-Based Social Assistance and Rehabilitation for People with Mental problems 2011-2020, which is aimed at strengthening the network of mental health services in the country, as well as raising awareness about the issue in the public.
Jesper Moller, UNICEF Vietnam Deputy Representative, said at the conference that more Vietnamese children need mental healthcare resulting from stress due to school. Pregnant women are also at risk, he added.