Harry Minas
Director, Centre for International Mental Health
The Government of Vietnam is devoting increased attention to the mental health of the population and to the further development of the mental health system, with a particular focus on further developing community mental health services and rehabilitation social support services. There is already an extensive network of hospital based psychiatric services. There are 30 mental hospitals (three under the control of the Ministry of Health – the National Psychiatric Hospital 1, near Hanoi, the National Psychiatric Hospital 2, in Bien Hoa, near Ho Chi Minh City, and the National Institute of Mental Health, in Bach Mai General Hospital, Hanoi – and 27 under the control of provincial governments) and 21 psychiatric wards in province-level general hospital. However, there is increasing awareness that hospital-based service provision is insufficient to meet the menatl health service needs of the population. The move to develop community-based mental health services was initiated by the approval in 1998 of 
the Community-based Mental Health Care Program (CMHCP) by the Prime Minister, Phan Van Khai. Mental health assessment and treatment is now available in primary health care centres in a majority of the Districts of Vietnam. This program focuses on schizophrenia and epilepsy and services for people with common mental disorders remain limited. Despite these advances many challenges remain.
In response to these challenges and the opportunities afforded by government commitment to development of a community-focused mental health system WHO Geneva and the WHO Vietnam office have been active in developing a strategy for mental health system development in Vietnam.
A WHO consultancy and WHO-convened workshop in Hanoi in December 2007 made the following recommendation: “Establish a National Taskforce on Community Mental Health System Development. The National Taskforce on Community Mental Health System Development is conceived as the key driver of the WHO recommendations on community mental health and of the Lancet Global Mental Health Call for Action.” The recommendation was accepted and work begun on the deign of the National Taskforce at a subsequent WHO-supported workshop in 2008.
In December 2010 the Centre for International Mental Health received generous funding support from Atlantic Philanthropies for the establishment and operation of the National Taskforce. A distinguished International Advisory Board has been formed, with the membership including international mental health leaders from many parts of the world who have a commitment to mental health system development in Vietnam. Work on the detailed establishment of the governance arrangements, collaborating institutions, and work program of the Taskforce will commence in April in Hanoi.
Among the areas of focus for the Taskforce will be policy development and mental health system financing, community-focused mental health service design, human resources for mental health, the mental health of children and youth, and advocacy and human rights of people with mental illness. As well as the Ministry of Health it is anticipated that other parts of government, particularly the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education, will be key partners in the work of the Taskforce.
In what has traditionally been an agrarian society urbanisation is proceeding at a rapid pace, with increasing concerns about drugs and alcohol and a number of other pressing social problems. The mental health of the country’s children and young people is a key concern and a government and community focus. Vietnam has a very young population. It has a dynamic economy and high levels of education and is in the process of rapid social and cultural change. Young people are increasingly outward-looking. Many young psychiatrists and other mental health professionals are training in some of the best international universities. There is a great deal of talent and energy and the will to transform the mental health system for the benefit of the people of Vietnam.
The National Taskforce on Community Mental Health System Development in Vietnam, established in this year of the tiger, will make a substantial contribution to the transformation of the mental health system in Vietnam.
Entrance gate to Ngoc Son (Jade Mountain) Temple in Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi.