Mental health determines national prosperity: Vice President

Mental health is crucial, since it is directly linked to the quality of life, the happiness of families, social security and the prosperity of the nation, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan has said.

In a meeting to commemorate World Mental Health Day (October 10th), the Vice President said Vietnam continuously regarded the provision of medical care, especially mental health services , as a leading priority for the improvement of the quality of human resources, who serve the country’s development.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan delivers a speech at the meeting. Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn

The event saw the participation of scientists and experts from the World Health Organisation and the World Psychiatric Association, and numerous international specialists from all over the world, such as Japan, France, Australia, the US, the Republic of Korea, Canada, Germany, Cambodia and New Zealand.

The meeting heard that the number of people suffering from mental health problems is increasing due to the pressures of modern life and unhealthy lifestyles. Mental health problems come in different forms, including symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, and emotional and behavioural disorders.

Recent statistics show that approximately 15 percent of Vietnam’s population suffers from mental disorders.

Last year, almost 21,000 people were diagnosed with and treated for schizophrenia, according to the Ministry of Public Health.

According to the WHO, mental disorders account for 14 percent of diseases worldwide, with 75 percent of cases reported in low-and medium-income countries.

The rate of the elderly suffering from mental disorders has increased alarmingly. It is predicted that approximately 2,000 people will lose their sanity each day by 2030.

Vietnam has established a network of mental health care in the community, with a focus on providing treatment for patients living with schizophrenia.

However, the country also faces a number of shortcomings, including a shortage of medical staff and mental health facilities specialising in mental illness, as well as ineffective coordination between relevant sectors.