SFU researcher Jill Murphy is saying “hẹn gặp lại sau” (see you soon) Canada, and “good morning” Vietnam as she heads overseas to pursue research related to mental health practices.
The study will be conducted in coordination with Simon Fraser University and the Institute of Population, Health and Development in Hanoi, represented by Elliot Goldner and Dr. Vu Cong Nguyen, respectively. Funded by Grand Challenges Canada, the pilot project aims to test the feasibility of a large scale training program for health care workers in Vietnam.
Researchers hope that the information gained will be used towards improving health care systems and mental health care conditions around the world.
Management of mental health is lacking for most populations; it is a growing issue that continues to be stigmatized and misunderstood, even in countries like Canada. In many less developed countries (LDCs), services are lacking and knowledge is insufficient in areas related to mental health.
The country of Vietnam was chosen partly because Simon Fraser University already has a strong connection with Vietnam. Vietnam is also economically and socially similar to many other LDCs.
The research will focus on common mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Many of these illnesses are correlated, and often a decrease in mental health leads to or aggravates physical health problems. As the World Health Organisation predicts, depression could become the second leading cause of disease worldwide by the year 2020.
Murphy explained that there continues to be a stigma around mental health, which causes people to fall into a state of anxiety, discomfort, or shame.
To alleviate this issue, she advised that doctors be provided with better resources so that they can recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental disorder and manage the situation in a culturally appropriate manner. Doctors should also be able to provide the appropriate treatment, and provide strategies and tools with which patients can educate themselves.
“Research has shown that primary health care workers, [such as] doctors and nurses, can successfully treat common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety,” said Murphy. “Improving training and support of these health care supporters can lead to a great deal more services available on the primary care level.”
She continued, “Mental health has been neglected globally, in countries like Canada, because they have often been stigmatized […] In the future it is important that mental health no longer be seen as something separate but be integrated in the broader context of the global health.”
In Vietnam, Murphy plans to interview health care professionals about their work environment, with a specific focus on their workload, attitudes, and understanding of mental health issues.
“Primary health care workers are the first point of contact for patients when they seek help [for] mental illness,” Murphy said. “The ability of these primary health care workers to successfully integrate mental health interventions into their everyday practice can determine whether or not people receive adequate and successful care for their mental disorders.”
Murphy will also be gathering information from patients about the health care system and its ability to provide help when it is needed. Lastly, surveys will be given out to different sample populations for a broader perspective on the overall occurrences of mental disorders.
For Murphy, this research is her stepping stone towards bigger goals — she hopes it will contribute to the “growing body of information” around mental health and “improve services around the world,” eventually moving towards integrating better health care in other countries and building connections and opportunities for those suffering from mental illnesses.
