Spotlight Articles, News & links- May 2003
The Vietnamese Mental Health Service, London (VMHS)

On behalf of the BE4 Project, Kalbir Kaur Mann is conducting visits to organisations to collate best practice guidelines and to also document some of the issues facing organisations working with specific ethnic groups. This spotlight report is the first of several where we will aim to introduce the work of the organisations we have had the opportunity to visit.

For further information about the work of the Vietnamese Mental Health Service, please contact them directly:

Address: Thomas Carlton Centre, Alpha Street, Peckham, London, SE15 4NX
Tel: 020 7639 2288
Fax: 020 7639 0008
Email: vietnamesemhs@aol.com

Contact person: Phuong Leung (Health Promotion Worker)

1. Introduction
2. Aims and services
3. Key issues that impact their clients' mental health
4. Some Vietnamese concepts of mental health illness and health
5. Obstacles for Vietnamese people in gaining access to services

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Introduction

VMHS was set up in 1989, as a result of a two year research programme, which had identified mental health needs of Vietnamese refugees living in London. From this, the organisation has developed and currently employs ten members of staff who provide a range of services to people with mental health needs, their families and carers.

VMHS provides care and support to over 300 refugees in London, as well as working with clients outside of London.

• Work with Vietnamese children, families and individuals in need of support because of mental health difficulties
  
• Establish network of effective working links with heath and social workers and other professionals
  
• Enhance use of counselling services for all Vietnamese people experiencing emotional difficulties or psychological hardship
  
• Work with community organisations and individuals, to improve Vietnamese refugees' understanding of mental health/social systems, to enable them to gain access to mainstream organisations and make effective use of those services
  
• Raise awareness of Vietnamese culture and beliefs in mental health, the needs of Vietnamese clients to non-Vietnamese professionals
  
• Provide care, support and rehabilitation to residents at the VMHS hostel in Brixton

• Counselling service - emotional care and support, which includes home visits to monitor a patient's mental state
  
• Social problems - help in sorting these, such as access to welfare benefits and housing benefits, due to a lack of language skills
  
• Services in hospital - acknowledge cultural differences and use specific skills and expertise of Vietnamese workers in assisting with assessment / diagnosis and discussion of treatment procedures
  
• Drop in service - English classes, craftwork for users / carers. Helps people socialize, regain self-esteem and work towards reducing stigma amongst people
  
• A service for Vietnamese community organisations - which provides training / education about mental health issues and the health, social care system and publishes books / leaflets / Health Newletter in Vietnamese and Chinese languages
  
• Information service - raises awareness of Vietnamese culture and beliefs in mental health, explains needs of Vietnamese clients to mainstream professionals, to bridge cultural gaps
  
• Opportunity to socialize with others - which prevents social isolation
  
• Realize other families have similar problems, which allows them to identify with others

• Exposure to violence and insecurity, due to the experience of war between 1945 and 1975
  
• Traumatic escape from Vietnam
  
• Internment in detention camps
  
• Dispersal on arrival in UK
  
• Learning to survive
  
• Breakdown of traditional family structures, loss of role eg, for elders / status / identity
  
• High unemployment
  
• Low educational attainment
  
• Housing conditions
  
• Low take up of health services

• Organic impairment of the brain, where food or herbs will help balance the body
  
• Balance of hot and cold, understood to maintain mental well being
  
• Spiritual and supernatural factors, such as being punished for sins of ancestors
  
• Importance of self-control
  
• Belief in destiny
  
• Stigma of mental ill health
  
• Importance of family
  
• Technique for diagnosis and speed of treatment - with medicine expected to be of use very quickly, or not at all
  
• Keeping problems 'in the family' and not sharing with people external to family

• Lack of staff - who have language / cultural backgrounds as them
  
• Inability to speak English or to understand its written form
  
• Unfamiliarity with the complex British health and social services systems
  
• No knowledge about relevant social welfare allowances
  
• Cultural beliefs are different from mainstream providers
  
• Mainstream approach, not specifically meeting needs of individuals because of a lack of cultural understanding
  
• Lack of sympathy and support from professionals re. information to patients about their illness / medication
  
• Financial difficulties / hardship
  
• Professional misconceptions, such as that extended families will look after other family members