More attention expected to be paid to people’s mental health: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam expressed his hope that the lecturers at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities would continue to support the people regarding mental health after the university’s launch of the “Spiritual Vaccine” programme in September.

Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam talks with leaders of Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities. (Photo: VNA)
Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam talks with leaders of Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities. (Photo: VNA)

The Deputy Prime Minister visited the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, on November 18 to learn about the activities of the university’s Counselling and Psychotherapy Division on the occasion of Vietnamese Teachers’ Day (November 20).

Associate Professor, Doctor Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, Rector of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said that the Counselling and Psychotherapy Division was established in 2019.

The unit performs counselling and psychotherapy for students and individuals in need. This is also a practical environment for students of psychology and graduate students of clinical psychology who are studying at the university.

The university launched the “Spiritual Vaccine” programme in early September this year to provide free mental health support for people in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City. The counsellors of the Counselling and Psychotherapy Division have actively participated in the counselling and psychotherapeutic activities of this programme.

On the occasion of Vietnamese Teachers' Day, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam sent greetings to the university’s lecturer team while applauding them for both teaching and supporting the community. He shared his hope that the lecturers and psychologists will continue to support people into the future.

According to the Deputy PM, mental health has not been paid due attention in the past time and through the pandemic, it has shown that the mental aspect is very important, requiring greater attention and solutions to prevent mental health problems.