Meeting with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), US

Hanoi, 19 January 2015 – Research and Training Centre for Community Development (RTCCD) welcomed Ms. Pamela S. Hyde – General Director of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the United States’ Ministry of Health. The meeting occurred during Ms. Pamela S. Hyde’s trip to Vietnam with an expectation to learn more about prevention, care and treatment of addiction and mental health in Vietnam as well as SAMHSA’s contributions to these fields over years. The meeting took place at RTCCD office.

In the meeting, Dr. Tran Tuan – Director of RTCCD introduced about the Centre’s history and the “Think Tank” operation model. In which, all projects, services and researches aim to the ultimate goals which are policy advocacy and law changes.

After 15 years in mental health care field in Vietnam, RTCCD has successfully conducted 24 training courses, 17 research projects and established a clinic specializing in mental health and mental disorders care in Vietnam. In particular, many projects are for people with mental illness in community and palliative cares for People Living with HIV/AIDS and drug addicts.

“RTCCD is the first Centre in Vietnam has integrated mental health cares with palliative cares for people living with HIV/AIDS. Our studies have shown that more than 40% of PLHIV suffer from common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.” Dr. Tran Tuan said, “TUNA clinic (former name of Green Pine Clinic) has been developed to strengthen positive behaviors and focus on clients’ strengths. By using mental health treatments to PLHIV, life quality and adherence are significantly improved.”

Mrs. Nguyen Thu Trang – coordinator of “Rising Star” Project, which is about community-based mental health care funded by Canada Grand Challenges Canada, said, “Mental health care system in Vietnam only focuses on residential facilities. Meanwhile, non-government budget cares such as community supports, family cares and patients’ self-cares are totally ignored. Women sharing good examples in caring people with mental disorders in community project aims to develop patient’s life quality, consolidate capacity of Women’s Union and decrease discrimination for people with severe mental illness. This is the first project applies “Learning from positive roles” method in taking care of mental patients in the world and RTCCD is also the leading organization in mental health care in community”.

Ms Pamela S. Hyde expressed her impression and interest in mental health projects conducted by RTCCD, especially in evidence-based policy advocacy. SAMHSA is exploring directions and abilities in expansion of prevention, care and treatment for people with mental illness and drug addicts.

The meeting has offered new chances and prospects of corporation between SAMHSA and RTCCD in treatment, prevention and mental health care research in Vietnam./