Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Many children, adolescents andyoung people struggle with mental health challenges while lacking the essentialcoping 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 mentalhealth issue, with only 8.4% able to access necessary support services orcounselling for emotional and behavioural challenges.

Only 5.1% of parents recognised that their adolescent child neededhelp for emotional and behavioural problems.

In Vietnam, the rate of 10 common mental disorders is 14.9% of thepopulation, but anyone can suffer from mental disorders, at least at somepoint, according to doctor Tran Van Thuan.

UNICEF is calling for enhanced mental health strategies to supportthe young generation in Vietnam as part of World Children’s Day 2023.

Mental health has been identified as a matter of concern by youngpeople themselves. Earlier this year, UNICEF Vietnam consulted its network ofyoung people (U-report) on the issue of greatest concern to the populationUNICEF serves: children, adolescents and young people.

The majority of participants selected ‘mental health’, appealingfor stronger attention and support, asking UNICEF to dedicate World Children’sDay 2023 to championing their mental well-being.

UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers congratulated theVietnamese Government on its current efforts to develop a comprehensive mentalhealth strategy.

“UNICEF encourages a specific focus on early intervention,introducing relevant strategies and interventions specifically designed forchildren and adolescents, that build skills and resilience and promote mentalwellbeing,” said Flowers.

“Children and adolescents, parents and teachers need to beequipped with skills, knowledge and resources to enjoy and promote mentalwell-being,” she said.

“It is essential that all of us – parents, teachers, socialworkers, health workers, government and private sector — work to de-stigmatisemental health, understand how the experience and response for girls and boysmay differ, and actively and persistently promote mental well-being approachesand strategies to strengthen the prevention of serious risks in this area,” sheadded.

Starting on November 20, which marks the anniversary of the cominginto force of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a communicationcampaign was launched to deliver mental health-related information and positiveapproaches.

Named “Open Up & Connect”, this campaign will run untilDecember 11 – UNICEF’s 77th anniversary — providing tips, resources andcreative ideas, as well as information on learning how to better identify whena friend, daughter, son, student or oneself are struggling.

Quick tips and activities will provide coping strategies as wellas 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, incommunities and by government - to ensure that the National Mental HealthStrategy that the Government of Vietnam is working on has a specific focus onchildren and adolescents,” she said.

To promote mental well-being, UNICEF Vietnam will organise anevent on November 28 in Hanoi where experts from several ministries andacademia will analyse the national mental health situation of children andadolescents, and share ideas and lessons learnt in support of a dynamic andchild/adolescent sensitive national strategy.

Importantly, the participants will learn about concerns and ideasto promote mental well-being directly from young people, as well as fromoutcomes of the ‘Hackathon Competition 2023’ taking place in Da Nang city untilNovember 26.

Children and youth participation is a core principle of the CRCand UNICEF says it is committed to engaging the population that it serves inactivities and discussions on areas that matter to them and will impact theirlives./.