“I have learnt that shouting or spanking when the child does something wrong will impact its emotional and mental [state]. Especially, the child will hate me. That’s what I really don’t want,”
“Parenting is about loving and caring for your children. Being a parent is not easy. Sometimes it is very frustrating! Along with the joys of parenting, many parents face problems, too. Toughtimes can give you the chance to learn and grow as aparentand as a person”
“I participated in the parenting class when my daughter was 1 year old. At the beginning, I only wanted to know how to feed my child. However, after learning more and more, I found out there are a lot of parenting skills which are so important. But, I didn’t have them”
Phu’s father realizedhis behavior was harmful to both himself and the child.
He assumed his responsibility to take care of his son and he stopped drinking.
“After two years I have been following their case, father and son now even play and sleep together”
Thu, a social worker assigned to Phu’s family
“I want Phu to become a much better man than I have been, I wish him to do better than me in life.” “
We are doing much better and Phu knows he has to choose good friends for himself now. The ones that can support him in school and help him become a good boy
In the course of the research some barriers were also mentioned, including large class sizes, lack of interest in teacher training programs and lack of focus in curriculum design
Teachers, principals and school administrators participating in the UNICEF study
recognized the importance of the teacher-student relationship in identifying and supporting students with mental health issues.
“I liked playing videogames back then because there everything seemed possible. I saw my grandfather suffering though and I did not want to be an extra burden for him.”
“I am glad that Thinh has become more conscious of the danger and risks connected to engaging in online games. In my last follow-up visits, I could clearly see the improvements. He has been much more participative lately. He is a curious boy, well-connected with and aware of the reality around him. He now even helps his grandfather with household chores. They enjoy spending time together after school.”
“I went to visit Thinh to assess the family situation when members of the community reported the case to us. Besides the lack of adequate parental care, Thinh was mentally suffering and withdrew in a virtual world.”
Linh, a social worker in charge of managing Thinh’s case
The child developed an addiction to videogames - an unhealthy coping strategy that many adolescents resort to as an escape from painful situations
Boys in Vietnam have higher rates of conduct disorders and girls have higher rates of emotional problems, such as anxiety and depression.
Many ethnic minority students suffer from poverty, discrimination and marginalization, putting them at high risk of dropping out of school and having poor mental health. Mentoring and guiding students face many challenges in accessing and gaining the trust of ethnic minority families.
Han was nine years old when she was sexually abused by an acquaintance.The guy gave her snacks and took her away on the bike.
She did not want to see anyone. We learnt from the grandmother that Han did not talk to anyone. She also did not sleep well at night and had regular nightmares”
It was hard to talk about what she had experienced and how she felt. Trinh, Han’s social worker, noticed that Han was good at drawing. Trinh gave her papers and pens and encouraged her to draw what she had in mind
“Through the drawings, we talked about what she had gone through and how she felt about that. She was frightened and cried a lot”
Trinh came to see Han everyday day for a week, providing her with needed counselling until she calmed down
Awareness is needed in society to promote positive mental health, eliminate stigma, and encourage children and young people to reach out to friends, family, and professionals in the face of challenges. mental health challenges.
Mental health awareness is also needed to help parents, teachers, and other concerned adults identify warning signs that a child or young person may be experiencing mental health problems.
Han is doing very well at school. She has been rewarded as excellent student for the past two years. “I got the second prize of the drawing contest at school”, Han proudly said.
“I will try to finish lower-secondary school and will see what I will do. Maybe I will learn a profession, so I can find a good job in the future”
In my class, an 8th grade male student suddenly became lazy, often skipping class to play games. He began losing his temper easily and would hit out at other students
I found out that he was affected by his father’s violent acts against his mother, a person with a disability. He had nowhere to turn and no one to talk to.
In the past, I would have reported him to the School Management Board for immediate disciplinary action. But now I have a different way of working. I talked to him and his classmates to find out why his behavior had changed so suddenly.
As such, I have had proper approaches and methods to persuade both him and his father. I’m relieved that his father has changed. I have also seen positive changes in the student’s behavior
Students in Vietnam often do not feel comfortable going to their teachers to seek emotional support in school or in society
Many teachers still choose physical discipline to punish students, even though it has been officially banned
Student mental health can be enhanced by:
Foster positive teacher-student relationships
Eliminate the application of physical discipline
Reduce study pressure
Foster student connections with school
Promote kindness and positive relationships among students
Things are simpler and better when we know how to open up, share and respect each other’s differences.
The respecting gender diversity topic helped me and my friends understand that besides the two main genders, there is a community with diverse and distinct gender identities known as the LGBTQ community
After studying this topic, one of my closest friends has realized that she belongs to the LGBTQ community.
She has talked to her parents about her real gender identity and they have accepted her for who she is. She has also come out to her classmates and everyone is still friendly and shows her the respect she deserves
LGBTQ students face daily challenges including negative family reactions to their sexuality or gender identity, along with fears of stigma and discrimination.
Male students who see their peers as being less aggressive are often bullied, ridiculed and labeled as “princess”, “lady”. They suffer discrimination and are often abandoned by their peers in play and learning activities
