A man with mental illness is cared for at the Social Protection Centre in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong. About 30 percent of Vietnamese population or 28.2 million are suffering from mental health issues, with 25 percent experiencing depression. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Mental health issues are widespread and increasing in Vietnam,particularly among young people, experts said.
Nguyen Van Ca, deputy head of 175 Military Hospital’s Psychiatry Department,said 29 percent of people with mental disorders were youths and 2.3 percent hadtried to commit suicide or plan to do so.
Mental illness is a combination of many factors, not one specific cause, hesaid. Pressure at work or school, financial stress and tense communityrelationships are some typical causes.
According to director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) NguyenDoan Phuong, depression is a common issue.
About 30 percent of Vietnamese population (28.2 million) is suffering frommental health issues and 25 percent experience depression.
It can strike at any time, but is most common in people between the ages of 18and 45. Women are more likely to suffer from the disease than men. There is ahigh rate among unemployed, separated or divorced people.
Public awareness of mental health and depression has improved as more peoplevisit mental health service facilities for checkups.
Some 50 people go to the NIHM each day to treat their depression.
Signs of depression include a feeling of boredom, emptiness, difficulty concentrating,forgetfulness and fatigue. Some feel guilty, suffer insomnia or excessivesleep, or are irritable. Physical symptoms such as reduced appetite orovereating, headache, chest pain and digestive disorders are also possible.
In some cases, depressed individuals think about death or attempt suicide.
Duong Minh Tam, from NIMH’s stress-related disorder department, agreed.
Many patients have unsuccessfully sought care before visiting NIMH. Only afterseeing a doctor at the institute were they diagnosed with serious depression.
Tam provided an example – a teacher from Nam Dinh province.
Unhappy in her marriage and suffering physical abuse by her husband, she livedin despair. Tam said the teacher experienced headaches and difficulty breathingwithout realising they were associated with a mental disorder.
The many pressures of modern life can fuel depression and similar issues.
“Many children suffer stress if they cannot meet the demands of their parents,”Tam told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.
According to Ca, most people with mental disorders recover well after receivingtreatment.
Recognising psychological problems is the first step toward curing them. Payattention to health problems and see a doctor as soon as experiencing symptomsthat could indicate depression, Ca recommended. He added symptoms like insomniaand arrhythmia can last a long time if they are not treated.-VNS/VNA
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