Mental Health-Social Work News

Mental Health and Social Work - 2019

Social Work and Psychiatry disciplines were well represented on 2019 education exchanges to Can Tho. The Social Work Team in April consisted of Dr. Jill Cole, DSW, (Jill), Gail Watts, MSW (Gail), Helen Sikov, MSW LNHA, Project Leader, (Helen), and Dr. Tam Dinh, PhD, LCSW (Tam), who was new to our team this year. Dr. Richard Veith, MD, Project Leader (Richard), Dr. Kathleen Meyer, MD (Kathleen), and Aditi Sharma, MD (Aditi), represented the field of Psychiatry.

As we are all engaged in Mental Health training and consultation, our teams will be collaborating in many areas where academics, medical care, and community services would benefit by learning and observing our different approaches to patient care, and work with clients and families. Mental Health is a growing field of interest throughout Vietnam and Social Work has found that our associations in HCMC were especially supportive this past April, and in October when two of our team members, Minh Ha Nguyen, MSW, LCSW, and Huong Hoang, MSW, LCSW, visited our partners in October this year. 

We were all so very busy at multiple sites, but I will attempt to highlight some important efforts on the part of the Social Work delegation in April and October.

• Jill and Gail primarily focused on assisting the Social Workers (SWers) at the Pediatric Hospital in Can Tho, as they are a newly established team in need of support. Jill and Gail organized an all day Workshop, attended by approximately 50 hospital professionals, including the SW team. Many of the presentations were introductory, to encourage the building of a foundation for their department, building a SW practice that will enhance their visibility and role. Additionally, Tam lectured on Trauma. The psychological, social and emotional implications for patients experiencing trauma is essential for Medical SWers to understand as they interact daily with patients and families. Our colleagues at World Wide Orphans (WWO), in HCMC graciously joined our workshop and presented the value of knowing and working with local community agencies that may assist their patients when they are discharged.   Jill fortunately could take a day to travel with Richard, to represent SW at the new Psychiatric Hospital in Kien Giang. They presented on the Multi-disciplinary team concept in Mental Health settings, discussing the variety of roles for SW, Psychology and Psychiatry.
• Helen continued with Educational and Administrative opportunities at CTUMP, CMC, Oncology Hospital, Pediatric Hospital, and Can Tho University (CTU) where our SW Team met with Administrative faculty members, and proposed the possibility of an On-Line Bachelors education, collaborating with St. Martin’s College in the US, where Tam is the Dean of SW. SW has a growing interest in Vietnam, and especially Can Tho, where there is currently not an educational curriculum for students interested in pursuing this area of study. At times it seems daunting for a small organization, but our partners clearly appreciate our involvement. It is both gratifying and rewarding to see our students build confidence and clarity of purpose. We learn from them the strengths of their cultural traditions and the family/community support networks that are so important for health and well being.

• Tam lectured in Trauma and Basic Interviewing skills at CTUMP, CMC, Oncology and Pediatric Hospitals, assisted Psychiatry with the interview of a client receiving Outpatient Care, and was a key presenter for the On-line program proposed to CTU. It was Tam’s first trip with MEET. I do not believe she thought I would keep her so busy, but we all benefitted from her addition to our team.
• A particularly valuable experience for me in April was a visit with the SWer, Psychologist and Pediatrician from World Wide Orphans, along with Jill and Gail, and two community members from agencies who support young people living with HIV/AIDS. The young woman we met was gracious in allowing us to all be there, and her gratitude for the concern and caring shown her from so many throughout the years in Vietnam was apparent. She endeared me as a young person who despite some of the challenges she has faced seems to be happy and desiring what most teens her age do. I was impressed with the oversight of WWO, who are located in HCMC, but attempt to follow those children they have known since first diagnosed and in their school. Their advocacy for children now allows for them to go to Public Schools, so their mission has changed somewhat. It is a tribute to those engaged in mental health and community change in Vietnam.
• In October, Minh Ha and Huong visited several of our partners in Can Tho. They were attempting to learn best where we needed to focus our team education on the spring 2020 trip. They spent time with staff of the Cardiology Hospital, Lily Le, Nurse Liaison Officer, Dr. Nguyen Than Luan, Asst. Dir., Doan Huong, Chief Nurse, 2 Caseworkers and a Pharmacist. Lily Le has indicated that she would like to focus the Spring MEET exchange on SW education, therefore we will plan to set aside appropriate opportunities for teaching at the Cardiology Hospital.
• Minh Ha and Huong were able to meet with our colleagues at CTU, and CMC, Dr. Phung Ha Tran, PhD., Binh Nguyen and Dr. Toai, PhD. At the Oncology Hospital they were welcomed by Thanh Thuy and her associates, who we have had the pleasure of working with and doing Workshops for several years. Visits at the General Hospital also proved rewarding, and the visit to Ton Duc Thang University in HCMC may open future collaborations.

Our team had a grand 2019. 2020 will hopefully build and grow the Mental Health Team efforts in academic, hospital and community settings.  March 23-28 is the teaching week for Spring, 2020. It is an earlier time than usual, but several SW team members plan to join and represent MEET.

Helen Sikov | Mental Welfare and Social Workers Lead | December 2019