Norway supports Vietnam’s emergency mental health training program

Norway supports Vietnam’s first Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies Training Program in cooperation with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center.

 

Photo: Mai Trang
Photo: Mai Trang

The program focuses on training Vietnamese professionals who work with children on children’s psychosocial response to disasters, and teaching recovery techniques. The program is groundbreaking in mental health and psychosocial support in Vietnam, serving as a first step towards overcoming stereotypes surrounding mental health conditions in times of emergencies.

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies Training Program was carried out in Hanoi on 15-24 July 2013. Partners are Hanoi School of Public Health and Center for Research, Information Services in Psychology at the Vietnam National University, and the trainers were Ms. Unni Heltne and Dr. Atle Dyregrov from The Norwegian Center for Crisis Psychology. The project has the active participation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health; Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs; Ministry of Training and Education; WHO and UNICEF.

“Stereotypes include the assumption that having strong reactions to traumatic events is a sign of weakness and therefore shameful,” says Ragnhild Dybdahl, Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi. “Whatever stereotypes there are, I believe that knowledge and openness are keys to overcoming them. Sharing and using good research is crucial.”

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies Training Program was carried out in Hanoi from July 15 to 24, 2013. Partners are Hanoi School of Public Health and Center for Research, Information Services in Psychology at the Vietnam National University, and the trainers were Ms. Unni Heltne and Dr. Atle Dyregrov from The Norwegian Center for Crisis Psychology.

The project has the active participation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health; Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs; Ministry of Training and Education; WHO and UNICEF.

Source: Embassy of Norway in Vietnam

Ms. Unni Heltne and Dr. Atle Dyregrov perform a training roleplay. Photo: Mai Trang
Ms. Unni Heltne and Dr. Atle Dyregrov perform a training roleplay. Photo: Mai Trang

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