Tasks and solutions for children's mental health care and orphan care for children to develop comprehensively

Strive for 80% of children with mental health problems and children at high risk of mental health disorders to have access to counseling services, psychological support, and appropriate social services; 100% of orphans to be cared for by the Child Mental Health Care Program and Orphan Care Program for the period 2023 - 2030. This includes reviewing, amending, supplementing, and implementing laws and policies on mental health care for children and orphan care with diverse and flexible forms and models, focusing on alternative care for children at home. Review and improve policies and services for the care and nurturing of orphans at concentrated care facilities and SOS Children's Villages.

The Department of Child Psychiatry – Institute of Mental Health (Bach Mai Hospital) received about 10 patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Photo: Archive

Strengthen training, capacity building, and development of staff at all levels and sectors, especially staff working in child care, education, and protection, teachers working in child mental health care, medical staff, and social workers at educational institutions, social assistance facilities, child protection service providers, medical examination and treatment facilities, and in the community to support and provide mental health care services, foster care, and alternative care for orphans. Strengthen medical services for children's mental health care; strengthen primary health care in the prevention and early detection of mental health disorders in children; strengthen child mental health care at medical examination and treatment facilities.

Leaders of Thanh Hoa Provincial Women's Union give gifts to orphans - Photo provided by Thanh Hoa Provincial Women's Union

Develop services to support prevention, early detection, and consultation for children with mental health problems and children at risk of mental disorders at social assistance facilities, child protection service providers, and in the community; build a network of services, connections, and referrals for mental health care services for children; develop a program to advise and guide parents, caregivers, and children on knowledge and skills in mental health care. Develop mental health care services in schools; implement mental health education for students; develop a network of teachers, staff, and collaborators with knowledge and skills in mental health care for students at general education facilities. Develop support services and alternative care for orphans so that orphans can receive appropriate care, alternative care, and access support services according to their needs for comprehensive development. Prioritize alternative care for orphans at home by relatives, non-relatives, and adoption. Develop a network of services to find alternative care families, advise and support families on alternative care. Strengthen social work services to implement alternative care for children. Guide standards for care, nurturing, and provision of services for children at social assistance facilities and SOS Children's Villages according to the law. Increase the transfer of orphans and children in special circumstances at social assistance facilities and concentrated child care facilities to individuals and families for alternative care and adoption. Strengthen inter-sectoral coordination, build coordination mechanisms between agencies and organizations in child mental health care and orphan care appropriate to each subject. Strengthen inspection, monitoring, and evaluation of the implementation of the Program. Research, survey, and evaluate the situation of mental health care for children and orphans. Promote socialization, enhance international cooperation, mobilize all social resources, experiences, and initiatives to care for mental health and orphans.

Bich Huong