Mental Health/ Social Work April 2019 Update
It was such an exciting trip as Project Leader for MEET Social Work (SW) and Mental Health this past April in Can Tho, Vietnam. Our MEET team worked closely with UW Psychiatry/Mental Health on several occasions, and I am confident that together we demonstrated the importance of collaboration among our growing partnerships.
I was accompanied this Spring trip by Dr. Jill Cole, DSW, Gail Watts, MSW, Dr. Tam Dinh, PhD, LISW, Dr. Sue Ikai, MD, and Marsha Smith, LN. It seems that our week together in Can Tho is never long enough, but our SW Volunteers contributed fully during the time we had together. Our Social Work (SW) team was in six locations over six days of scheduled education. It has truly been fun to see the increasing interest in SW education!
Some highlights:
- A meeting with our entire SW team and the faculty of the Sociology Department at CanTho University to discuss a potential collaboration that would ideally result in an on-line Bachelors Program in Social Work. The goal would be to train students in foundational SW education, followed by an invitation to qualified students to study in the US for a Masters degree. Students who excel in SW knowledge and communications in the classroom could potentially be the future teachers who provide training to interested students throughout Can Tho and the Mekong. I was very encouraged by the possibilities.
- A One-day Workshop at the Can Tho Children’s Hospital for their SW Team, Nurses, Physicians, and Administrative personnel resulted in a greater understanding of the role that SW assumes in the US in a hospital setting. Dr. Jill Cole, DSW and Gail Watts, MSW organized and led this workshop. Additionally Dr. Tam Dinh, PhD, LISW presented “Trauma in Healthcare Settings”, and our friends and colleagues from WWO in HCMC spoke to the audience about the importance of hospitals collaborating with community organizations. WWO is a very successful NGO in HCMC. World Wide Orphans originally focused exclusively with children suffering from HIV/AIDS. They have diversified, but maintain their role as an oversight agency for children who have experienced multiple traumas, including HIV/AIDS. They see children in Can Tho as well.
- Jill and Gail continued their work at Children’s Hospital, consulting with the SW team there, who are all new and very eager to learn. Jill and Gail will re-establish their on-line education with them when they return to the US.
- Dr. Tam and I focused on lectures at Can Tho Medical College (CMC), that would like to establish a Medical SW specialty for their students; the Oncology Hospital; that has consistently requested Mental Health education; and at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Requests for SW lectures were numerous and varied. There appears to be a growing interest in gerontology, stress management, communications, trauma, and interdisciplinary team work.
- Jill joined UW Psychiatry Team to present the role of SW and Psychology in a psychiatric setting that is currently being established South of Can Tho. It was a wonderful opportunity to establish the importance of SW, Psychology, and Psychiatry in addressing the needs of individuals with mental health issues.
- Dr. Sue Ikai , MD and Marsha Smith were part of our Interdisciplinary Team. Their areas of specialty are Gerontology and End of Life care. Together they provided a valuable perspective on the importance of being knowledgeable, and sensitive to a patient’s need for compassion and consideration of their feelings and psycho-social needs.
The UW Psychiatry team was equally busy this past Spring trip. Dr. Richard Veith, MD who leads this delegation, continued to teach and consult primarily at CTUMP, and the Psychiatry Hospital. He participated in the meeting to develop Mental Health roles at the new Psychiatry Hospital referenced above.
Dr. Kathleen Myers, MD and Dr. Aditi Sharma, MD focused on Youth/Children’s Mental health efforts in a variety of settings, including Children’s Hospital, CTUMP, and the Psychiatry Hospital
A very special and new experience for them was meeting with about 600 high school students in Can Tho. There were many questions from the students that inspired our team to envision a means to assist with mental health through the educational system, as well as continue our emphasis on medical exchanges.
The MEET Social Work and Mental Health delegation is focusing on April, 2020 for our next team trip together. Some of our Seattle team met to establish priorities for the coming year shortly after our return in April. We were grateful that Dr.’s Veith and Myers from UW joined us to discuss our collective interests in Mental Health consultation and education in Can Tho.
The MEET Mental Health and SW Team priorities:
- Electronic Bachelors Degree Program to sustain a foundational education in SW at Can Tho University.
- A proposed 3 month curriculum in Medical Education at Can Tho Medical College.
- On-going teaching in a variety of settings where MEET has established relationships.
- Interdisciplinary Team Work
- Translation needs
- On-going Zoom/Skype education with partners in Can Tho.
I look forward to leading the continued development of SW and Mental Health for MEET. It has been an endeavor I had never dreamed to undertake at this time in my life, but the people I have met on this journey have been an inspiration and a joy. Our team has made incredible strides and I look forward to our exchange of ideas and learning from our collective efforts in the years to come.
