RMIT delivers mental health training to NGO

Tiếng Việt

RMIT delivers mental health training to NGO

According to Save the Children, 28.9% of Vietnamese children under the age of 16 are living in poverty, which can greatly impact on educational opportunities, safety, and physical and mental health.

To strengthen mental health support in Ho Chi Minh City, RMIT University recently delivered staff and volunteer training to not-for-profit organisation REACH, to develop and enhance the organisation’s capacity to address youth mental health issues.

REACH predominantly works with and empowers young people by providing vocational training programs for disadvantaged students.

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RMIT University’s wellbeing department delivered mental health training to staff from not-for-profit organisation, REACH.

RMIT University Senior Student Counsellor Lisa Bernstein said that the training gave participants an understanding of, and skills and strategies dealing with mental health for those regularly working directly with students.

“The training focused on developing an understanding of signs and symptoms of common health issues and supporting students in distress,” Ms Bernstein said. “This included techniques and suggestions on how to cope with and assist students.

“Participants also learned and practiced ‘helping skills’, including listening and expressive skills.”

Throughout the training session, REACH Project Coordinator Nguyen Ngoc Hang said that participants discussed case studies that included students in stressful situations, and those facing difficult or disadvantaged circumstances.

“Working with students with extremely difficult circumstances needs empathy and communication skills,” Ms Hang said.

“In addition to having in-depth technical knowledge and practical experience, we also need to understand students, and have skills to support them to overcome their disadvantaged backgrounds.”

Looking ahead, Ms Bernstein shared that RMIT University’s “next step is to schedule more sessions and support where possible with the aim to improve mental support for disadvantaged students in Vietnam”.

Story: Thuy Le

Media Release

Campus and community

16 July 2020