Nearly 20% of Ho Chi Minh City medical staff show signs of depression

The information was shared by Dr. Bui Nguyen Thanh Long, Deputy Medical Operations Department, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, at a preliminary workshop summarizing mental health care activities for medical staff, on October 11. “This group needs professional intervention and support,” the doctor said.

The survey was conducted from December 2023 to May 2024, on 382 medical staff from 18 to over 60 years old, working at public and private medical facilities in Ho Chi Minh City. The results show that medical staff at the district level have a higher risk of depression than at the city, private and university levels. Public healthcare workers are at higher risk of depression, anxiety and stress than private healthcare workers. Young employees (18-39 years old) working at district health facilities are at high risk of stress.

Research also shows that when faced with mental health problems, healthcare workers tend to solve the problem themselves rather than seek support. Understanding and awareness of mental health among medical staff is still low. Many people do not believe that talking to a psychotherapist is an effective way to solve problems. Most medical staff focus on physical self-care such as eating right meals, getting enough sleep, exercising, yoga…, rather than focusing on recognizing emotions.

According to Dr. Long, there are currently 3 major barriers to mental health care for medical staff. The first Due to social prejudice, many medical staff do not want their mental health problems recorded in their personal records and are worried about acquaintances knowing their condition. Monday is the attitude of the medical staff themselves wanting to solve their own problems and thinking that the problem will probably get better on its own. Barrier Tuesday is that many people do not know where to get professional mental health support, nor can they afford it.

Faced with the above situation, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health proposed solutions such as policies to improve additional income for medical staff. Medical facilities build relaxation rooms for employees at work, and have free mental health knowledge sharing classes.

From a personal perspective, medical staff need to read reliable documents about mental disorder treatment methods and use psychological support services outside of office hours. In addition, each person needs to have the courage to proactively seek help when experiencing mental health difficulties.

Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Nguyen Van Vinh Chau said that if the health system wants to achieve good quality, it needs medical staff to be both physically and mentally healthy. Meanwhile, this group often faces heavy pressure and burden at work, leading to stress and anxiety.

Since the beginning of last year, the Department of Health has implemented a mental health care plan for medical staff, with activities such as organizing training classes, expanding the depression emergency network, and setting up relaxation rooms. at work… Recently, the Department issued 10 recommendations for implementing mental health care activities, minimizing physical exhaustion syndrome and mental health in medical staff.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has created a map of psychological counseling and mental health care services for everyone, including medical staff. When scanning the QR code, the map will display and directions to clinics, hospitals, organizations, and psychological units that care for mental health.

According to Ms. Susan Burns, US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, health workers are the core of community health because every day they spend a lot of time taking care of the health of others and sometimes forget their own health. . Observational evidence clearly shows that if we can take good care of the health of medical staff, only then will they be satisfied with their work, as well as build the strength of the health system, from That improves the health of the whole community.