Vietnam, New Zealand share experience on psychological support for U.N. peacekeepers

VNDPKO’s Director Pham Manh Thang delivers the opening remarks.

Speaking at the opening session on May 4, VNDPKO’s Director Major General Pham Manh Thang emphasized that New Zealand’s extensive experience in peacekeeping activities, particularly its well-established psychological support system within the New Zealand Defense Force, will provide valuable and practical insights. Presentations and discussions led by New Zealand experts are expected to help officers enhance psychological preparedness, resilience, and adaptability in multinational mission environments.

Wing Commander Jenifer Atkinson at the event

He expressed his hope that such experience-sharing activities on psychological support for peacekeeping personnel will continue to be maintained and further developed as a regular and meaningful form of cooperation between the two sides in the coming years.

This program builds on the success of previous exchanges held in May and October 2025 between Vietnam and New Zealand, laying an important foundation for strengthening capacity and raising awareness of psychological support in U.N. peacekeeping operations. It also contributes to fostering practical and effective cooperation between the two countries in this field.

A view of the opening ceremony

The program is attended by three psychologists from the New Zealand Defense Force, led by Wing Commander Jenifer Atkinson, Head of Operational Psychology. On the Vietnamese side, participants are officers involved in U.N. peacekeeping missions, both those who have recently completed their deployments and those preparing for upcoming missions, representing both unit-based and individual deployments.

Wing Commander Jenifer Atkinson exchanging experience with female Vietnamese blue berets

Participants include personnel from medical, engineering, and coast guard units who have completed their deployments as well as those preparing for upcoming missions.

The exchange aims to enhance awareness, share experience, and provide psychological support for personnel before and after their participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations. Experts will discuss lessons learned related to psychological support for military personnel based on real-world mission experiences. 

Delegates at the opening ceremony

Through this program, the VNDPKO will gather relevant data to support the development of psychological support programs for Vietnamese peacekeepers. It will also study the transfer and adaptation of content from the New Zealand Defense Force’s psychological support programs, develop support frameworks for personnel operating in conflict zones, and share experience in preparing mental and physical well-being for both personnel and their families following deployment, as well as insights from New Zealand’s practices in psychological support.

Translated by Chung Anh