Counseling divisions will be set up at general schools

Unicef researchers, after surveying Vietnamese youth aged 11-24 in four cities/provinces (Hanoi, HCMC, Dien Bien and Ha Giang), said that 8-29 percent of Vietnamese youth have problems with mental health, from mild to severe levels.

Meanwhile, 2.3 percent of youth commit suicide, which is lower than the global average level of 9 percent. However, the figure is on the rise. 

Of 409 individuals who thought of committing suicide, 102 tried to commit suicide.

Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan, who attended the report launching ceremony on February 6, said about 10 percent of Vietnamese people have mental and psychological problems, while 200,000 people in serious situation and have to undergo treatment.

Citing the case of a female seventh grader in Ha Tinh province who committed suicide in class because of anxiety, Lan emphasized that if the problems of the students had been discovered early, the suicide would have been prevented.

Nguyen Thi Phuong, a teacher from Kim Dong Secondary School, said students now feel pressure.

“The majority of them come to meet teachers and complain about the pressure their parents put on them,” she said.

A student burst into crying when saying that she could not find sympathy from parents. Instead of asking her if she has any problems at school or if she feels happy with her studies, the parents are only interested in the scores she got at school.

Another student complained that she was usually beaten by her drunk father. The father, who was contacted by the school, said he punished the daughter because she got bad scores and wasted time on love affairs.

Trinh Quoc Trung, 19, one of the surveyed students, said: “Parents now are too busy with their work. They tend to leave children alone with smartphones or iPads. Children don’t have many opportunities to talk to parents.” He said a counseling division should be set up at school.

In Da Nang City, five schools have psychology counseling teachers under a program supported by Dr Bahr Weiss from the US. 

Deputy headmaster of Phan Chau Trinh High School Nguyen Thi Thao Suong said the students there became dynamic and active after receiving consultancy. 

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Chi Mai