8%-29% of Vietnamese Adolescents Have Mental Health Problems: UNICEF

Around 8%-29% of Vietnamese adolescents have mental health problems while the mental health and psychosocial care services are still lacking, said UNICEF Vietnam’s Deputy Representative Lesley Miller at a meeting with Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) on June 22.

She also noted that school environment, academic pressure, bullying, and other social stressors negatively impact the mental health of Vietnamese students.

Ms. Amie Pollack, an U.S. Doctor for Behavioral Science, Mental Health, and Psychosocial Development, suggested the Vietnamese agencies urgently take measures to improve adolescents’ mental health.

The needy actions included (i) promoting the positive relations between teachers and students, (ii) reducing learning pressure and equipping students with skills for mental health enhancement, and (iii) building human resources for adolescent mental health at school.

In reply, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Ngo Thi Minh acknowledged the rise of children with mental health problems, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. She added that the MoET is drafting a mental health education program for children and students in 2022-2025. It aims to strengthen dissemination and education on mental health for educational administrators, teachers, school medical staff, and psychological counselors in schools. (Giao Duc Thoi Dai)