Mental Health Programs

VVAF strives to promote a community-based approach to mental health, largely through the use of a Collaborative Stepped Care Model. This model stresses the integration of mental health care into general health services which allows the mobilization of a large number of para-professionals at the grassroots level to manage the common mental health problems.

The majority of mental health problems in Vietnam remain unidentified and, therefore, untreated. The mental health care system currently involves a hospital-based approach. The treatment relies heavily on pharmacotherapy with less psychotherapy and almost no social intervention or rehabilitation.

VVAF's mental health programs look to integrate the community into the approach on mental health, while using experts at the hospital level for support. The expected results of the program are:

• Community mental health services for the management of the common mental disorders Depression and Anxiety will be available and accessible.
• Community-supported mental health care networks will be strengthened.
• Mental health will be promoted through advocacy and increased public awareness.

Currently, VVAF programs are contained to the areas of Da Nang and Khanh Hoa. The project, currently in its second phase after successfully mapping the inadequacies of mental health policy in these regions, is scheduled to run for three years and work towards implementing the Collaborative Stepped Care Model into these regions to improve their mental health care.