Medical workers give consultancy for a patient with a mental disorder at the Hanoi Mental Hospital. (Photo: tuoitre.vn) Moreover, clinical psychology services are not officially covered by healthinsurance.
This was the message delivered at a conference on strengthening the capacity ofthe mental healthcare system in the period of 2023-30, which was organised lastweek by the Department of Medical Service Administration (DMSA).
Cao Hung Thai, deputy director of the DMSA, said that Vietnam was facing adouble-edge problem related to diseases.
Vietnam is feeling impacts due to a gradually ageing population and a highproportion of people with neural disabilities, as well as the consequences ofthe 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 districthospitals organised outpatient medical examinations and treatment for mentallyill patients.
However, only 9.1%, equivalent to 59 out of 649, of district-level hospitalsorganised inpatient medical examinations and treatments for mentally illpatients.
This result showed a big gap in mental disorder treatment.
Mental health services in Vietnam are mainly drug treatments. Mentalrehabilitation services are very limited, and there are no formal mental healthservices 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 ofmental disorders.
According to a report by the National Psychiatric Hospital No 1, the rate of 10common mental disorders in 2014 was 14.2%, of which depressive disordersaccounted 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 andadolescents have common mental health problems.
Research on other special groups in 2017 also showed that the rate ofdepression 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 peoplewith mental illnesses.
Most people consider psychosis to be schizophrenia without knowing thatpsychosis has many other forms such as depression, anxiety and alcohol-relatedpsychosis.
The stigmatisation of patients with mental illnesses and disorders has led torefusing 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 hospitalsonly.
At the district and commune levels, they mainly just treat schizophrenia andepilepsy. A survey of the National Psychiatric Hospital No 1 showed that thesetwo diseases only account for about 0.5% of the population and the total numberof mental disorders.
Mental disorders affect 14.2% of the population.
It is estimated that 0.5% of other mental disorders are treated in specialisedhospitals, so over 90% of people with mental disorders have not received formalservices.
During the conference, experts discussed the project’s objectives such asstrengthening leadership and coordination between ministries and authorities atall levels in mental health care.
They also discussed preventing mental disorders, management, rehabilitation andsocial support for people with illnesses and disorders.
The discussion included strengthening the mental health system to providecomprehensive and community-based health and social services./.
VNA
