Hanoi At midnight, the phone rang at the Institute of Mental Health. Doctor Cam picked up the phone and heard from a colleague at the Poison Control Center that a pregnant woman was about to jump from a building.
Doctor Vu Thy Cam, 52 years old, Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Mental Health, immediately went to the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital. The patient was 7 months pregnant, had previously taken poison to commit suicide, and was taken to the hospital emergency room. After regaining consciousness, she attempted to jump from the building. "The patient was very agitated," said the on-duty team of the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, requesting support from the psychiatric team.
The team of doctors assessed that "the patient had a strong suicidal behavior". The poisoning from taking suicide pills did not affect the patient's life much, the problem that needed to be solved was mental health. After being advised by the doctors, the pregnant woman calmed down, shared that she was tired and stressed during pregnancy, but her husband did not care and often scolded her.
The conversation was interrupted when the husband appeared, the patient went into a fit of hysteria and continued to rush out the door, intending to jump from the building. Doctor Cam said that at that time, the team had to coordinate to prevent the patient from performing dangerous actions, and at the same time advised the husband to stay away.
"This is a really difficult case," the doctor said, adding that agitated psychiatric patients are often given intravenous sedatives combined with physical and psychological therapy. But this patient is pregnant, so the use of medication must be carefully considered so as not to affect the baby in the womb.
A few days later, the patient was fortunately calm and her family asked her to leave the hospital. The doctor instructed the husband to take care of his wife and support her mentally, and if there were any unusual signs, she needed to be hospitalized soon.
Doctor Vu Thy Cam. Photo: Thuy Quynh
The pregnant woman is one of thousands of patients who have been treated and stabilized by Dr. Cam, in nearly 30 years of working in the field of treating mentally ill people. Initially, the female doctor chose to work in psychiatry because "it was easier to get a job than other specialties". However, after a while, she realized that this was her destiny.
Psychiatrists are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They receive six years of general medical training, followed by further clinical training at the graduate level.
In 1994, after graduating from university, Ms. Cam worked at a provincial psychiatric hospital. Sympathizing with the plight of patients because they were very poor and a vulnerable group in society, she wanted to have a stable career to help them in the best way possible. In mid-2009, she transferred to the Institute of Mental Health, Bach Mai Hospital.
Psychiatric patients are a special group, unable to control their emotions and behaviors, and are not aware that they are sick, so contact with them is difficult. For example, in other specialties, clinical tests can be used for diagnosis; but in psychiatry, the disease can only be determined based on the knowledge and skills of the examiner. Each case has its own psychological characteristics and circumstances. Therefore, the doctor must be a good listener and understand the psychology to be able to treat effectively.
Psychiatrists are often cursed and attacked by patients. Doctor Cam remembers a 20-year-old female student who suffered from chronic insomnia and behavioral disorders. The patient was admitted to the hospital in a state of severe psychosis, often having hallucinations, hearing strange voices in her head, and panic. On the day of admission, the patient took off her clothes, cursed, and attacked medical staff. After nearly a week of treatment, the doctor was able to interact with the patient. After a month, the illness subsided, the girl was discharged, taking medication while continuing to go to school.
Dr. Cam has to monitor many cases for many years, especially at each turning point in life, such as graduating, applying for a job, getting married, having children - times when the disease can recur.
Like Ms. Mai, 31 years old, in Bac Giang, who escaped death thanks to the help of Dr. Cam. Before getting married, Ms. Mai showed signs of depression and was treated. After giving birth, the disease relapsed and she intended to commit suicide. Luckily, when Ms. Mai was trying to use her sleeve as a rope to hang herself, Dr. Cam discovered her, advised her and brought the woman back to the hospital room. "If it weren't for Dr. Cam, I can't imagine what life would be like for my two children now without their mother," she said.
Doctor Cam (in white shirt) in an emergency case of a mental patient. Photo: Thuy Quynh
In recent years, the number of hospitalized psychiatric patients has tended to increase. On average, Bach Mai Mental Health Institute receives more than 300-400 visits per day, and more than 200 inpatient beds are always full.
Late last year, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said that nearly 15 million Vietnamese people are suffering from mental disorders; the most common are depression and anxiety. Of these, the rate of schizophrenia (commonly known as madness) accounts for 0.47%; depression and anxiety account for a high rate of about 5-6% of the population, the rest are other disorders such as bipolar disorder, mental disorders related to the use of alcohol, drugs and other addictive substances.
Mental illness is a sensitive and discriminatory issue. Many mentally ill patients are shunned, locked up at home or in long-term care facilities. Most patients have negative perceptions of treatment and do not dare to tell colleagues or family that they are ill, for fear of being judged. For example, many students come to the hospital in a state of psychosis, or have self-harming behavior, but do not want to let people around them know, even hiding it from their parents.
"People with mental illness still face stigma from the community," said Dr. Cam, adding that there are currently many effective methods of treating mental illness such as pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, brain modulation... so the chance of recovery is high.
The number of people with anxiety disorders and depression increased by about 25%, leading to an increase in suicides. Many people with mental disorders do not have access to effective care. Only 29% of people with mental disorders and one-third of people with depression receive mental health care. "This is a direct consequence of underinvestment, with the health budget for mental health being very low," said Deputy Minister Thuan.
This situation makes many psychiatrists like Dr. Cam worried, as many patients are being left behind. "I wish there were more new psychotropic drugs, cheaper prices, and that psychiatric patients could access medical care early to receive comprehensive treatment and care," the doctor said, adding that each patient reintegrating into life is the happiness that makes her stay in the profession.
Thuy Quynh
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