Overall: Read the suggestions that I have made.

The main ideas are good, you

just need to make a few adjustments, especially regarding the tone and the
flow of your part. Try not to repeat your partners’ ideas when doing so. The
next deadline for the second draft is October 18th. Nonetheless, if you
complete your corrections early, feel free to send it to me so that I can review
it.

I. Introduction: (Koly)
In recent years, mental health has become an increasingly important issue in Vietnam, esp
ecially among the younger generation, who face significant pressures from studies, work, r
elationships, and societal expectations. Many young people experience anxiety, depression,
and psychological disorders due to exam stress, job hunting, or peer pressure. As a result,
the awareness of young people regarding mental health is gradually changing, with many
starting to realize that mental health is not just about illness but also the ability to maintai
n emotional balance, effectively cope with stress, and build healthy relationships, making l
ife more joyful.

However, this transformation still encounters numerous barriers. Many individuals,

particularly the older generation, believe that mental health is a sensitive issue often assoc
iated with stigma. They fear being ridiculed when discussing negative emotions or seeking
help from others. Additionally, the lack of information and mental health resources means
that many do not know where to start when facing issues. A large number of adults do not
have sufficient access to information about symptoms, causes, and treatment methods for
psychological problems, making it difficult for them to recognize when they need support.

(shorter, 135 to 150 would be enough)

II. Status quo: (Thu)

(Please REVISE your part; your part barely show what the current situation of mental
health in Vietnam is. Instead it consists of basically ideas and points that are relevant to
the other parts. When discussing the current situation, consider providing examples such
as domestic violence or workplace abuse, and then elaborate on these issues without
going too deeply into them. You ought to include statistics or data related to mental health
in Vietnam, preferably focusing on adults and youth. Two hundred words or more would
be enough. Express your main points in bullets points. Besides, be careful when using
external tools, make sure you use your own word in order to have a natural, human tone in
your part.)
Adults often view psychological issues with a negative mindset, which greatly impacts thei
r ability to recognize and address these problems effectively. In many societies, mental hea
lth challenges are still seen as a sign of weakness, rather than as valid health concerns that
need attention. This perception leads to feelings of shame, embarrassment, and guilt, push
ing individuals to suppress their emotions, avoid conversations about mental well-being, a
nd, more dangerously, avoid seeking professional help.
One prevalent belief is that adults should be able to "handle it themselves” when facing psy
chological difficulties. Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or prolonged stress ar
e often dismissed as temporary emotions or personal shortcomings, rather than recognizi
ng them as serious conditions. Many adults think they should have the resilience to push t
hrough these problems on their own. This reinforces the harmful notion that needing supp
ort equates to failure, contributing to the internalization of their struggles. The idea of self-
reliance is particularly strong, leading many to downplay the severity of their condition, of
ten until it's too late.
Moreover, there's a significant reluctance to seek professional help among adults. Some vie
w therapy or counseling as unnecessary or even a waste of time, believing that mental heal
th issues are not serious enough to warrant intervention. This is compounded by the social
stigma surrounding mental health care. Adults worry about being judged or labeled as wea
k by their peers or even by family members. Consequently, they may hide their struggles,
masking the reality of their emotional state, which leads to deeper isolation and untreated
mental health issues.
Another problem is the overwhelming tendency to prioritize external responsibilities—su
ch as work, family duties, and social commitments—at the expense of personal emotional
well-being. Adults often feel obligated to maintain a facade of strength, believing they must
not let their personal struggles interfere with their daily lives. This mindset contributes to
burnout, chronic stress, and emotional exhaustion, as individuals continue to neglect their
mental health for the sake of fulfilling societal or familial expectations.
In conclusion, this negative perception of mental health leads to a vicious cycle of neglect,
untreated conditions, and worsening psychological well-being. To break free from this har
mful mindset, it's essential to change how adults perceive mental health, embracing the id
ea that seeking help is a sign of strength and prioritizing mental health is just as important
as taking care of physical health.
III. Signs and Causes:
*Signs: (Anh)
1. Adults don’t seek out mental health services, even when they have problems
and know it. When we talk about ‘mental health’, most adults still associate it with
the word ‘crazy’. This is because, in our culture, people think ‘mental health’ is
incurable, and that the person is not normal. Moreover, most Vietnamese adults also
hold a stereotype that an issue should be dealt with by themselves or it has to be
solved within the family.
2. They stop interacting with others, even their family and friends, and are
completely isolated from society. Or we can tell through their strange behavior 
 they don’t receive appropriate help or advice so their problems become bigger day
by day  ignore their mental health and may neglect self-care practices such as
exercise, proper nutrition, sleep, and relaxation. Frequently express feelings of being
overwhelmed but do not take steps to address or manage these feelings.
3. Attributing depression symptoms to old age. They may lack knowledge about
mental health conditions, treatments, and the resources available for support. They
think that all of the symptoms that they have are just a sign of old age so they
completely ignore those symptoms. This leads to a worse situation
4. They think mental health is something ‘useless’ or not worth knowing. Many
adults in Vietnam do not understand the importance of mental health, especially its
effects on their lives. They mostly care about their physical health and think it’s
more essential. Downplay the importance of mental health, often saying things like
"it's all in your head" or "just get over it.". So they tend to ignore talking about this
topic. They may avoid talking about mental health issues, either for themselves or
others, indicating a lack of awareness or understanding of the topic.
(make it sounds a bit more natural)
*Causes: (Khoa) Among all the culprits, these three have the most
influence on people’s mindset.
1. Cultural and Historical Factors: Since Vietnam is a collectivist society, meaning
that people help each other out, especially during hardship, stigmatization on
mental health is not uncommon. In our country, where people have gone through
wars, famine and natural disasters, mental health was deemed unecessary, with
other aspects such as survival and national growth were prioritized instead,
resulting in such attitudes that mental illnesses are less vital, or even invalid. Beside
that, handling everything on your own and not asking for help, especially when it
comes to mental issues, has become social norms as doing the opposite would be
seend as a sign of weakness.
2. Generational Perspective and Trauma: Older generations, who have gone through
great sufferings and hardships, unintentionally keeps the same rigorous, fixed
mindset despite the fact that society is constantly in motion. They still only prioritize
survival, physical health, and collective well-being over individual emotional needs.
They do not realize that in today’s society, there are more to worry about than just
wealth and basic needs, and this very mindset is accidentally passed down to the
next generation, creating an seemingly endless cycle.
3. Lack of Awareness and Education: As mentioned above, since mental health is not
a top priority for most people, this particular topic rarely appears in the school’s
curricula. For many years, mental issues has been neglected. Although there are
some noticeable improvements in education and programs related to mental health,
the effectiveness of these efforts remains questionable.
IV. Consequence: (Ngọc)
I. Consequences on adults
1. Prevalence of Mental Disorders: Many adults lack awareness of the early signs of
psychological disorders, which often results in delayed intervention. For instance,
studies show that depression and anxiety disorders are prevalent in Vietnam, yet a
significant number of individuals do not receive the care they need. This can lead to
a downward spiral, where untreated conditions worsen over time, increasing the
risk of severe mental health crises.
2. Deterioration of Physical Health: Chronic stress, for instance, is linked to an incre
ased risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and other metabolic disorders.
3. They may engage in unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as poor dietary choices,
substance abuse, or physical inactivity, which further exacerbate physical health
problems.
4. Mental health directly influences the immune system. Research indicates that
individuals with untreated mental health conditions often experience compromised
immune function, making them more susceptible to infections and illnesses.
(combine 2, 3 and 4)
5. Workplace Challenges: Employees dealing with untreated mental health condition
s may struggle with focus, decision-making, and interpersonal relationships. Accord
ing to the ILO, mental health-related issues lead to an estimated economic loss equiv
alent to 4% of Vietnam's GDP annually due to decreased work performance. This no
t only affects individual livelihoods but also impacts the broader economy, as compa
nies face higher turnover rates and increased absenteeism.

II. Consequences on other people (summarize)

1. Children:
 Increased Risk of Mental Health Issues: Children of parents who do not prioritize
or recognize mental health are at a higher risk of developing psychological problems
themselves. Research indicates that parental mental health issues can significantly i
ncrease the likelihood of children experiencing anxiety, depression, and behavioral d
isorders.
 Emotional Instability: They might experience heightened anxiety or exhibit mood
swings, making it difficult to cope with everyday challenges. This emotional
instability can hinder their ability to form secure attachments and develop
resilience.
2. Partners (Wife/Husband)
 Strained Relationships: A partner's mental health issues may go unrecognized,
leading to misunderstandings, resentment, and a lack of support. This can create a
cycle of conflict and emotional distance.
 Risk of Domestic Violence: Poor mental health can increase the risk of domestic
violence, either as a perpetrator or victim, often stemming from untreated issues
like depression or anxiety.
 3. Society
 Generational Trauma: Mental health problems can be passed down through
generations, affecting children and family dynamics. Without intervention, this can
create a cycle of untreated mental health issues.
 Increased Crime Rates: Untreated mental health issues can contribute to behaviors
that lead to crime, including violence and substance abuse.
 Normalization of Silence: A lack of discussion about mental health perpetuates a
culture of silence, making it difficult for individuals to seek help or support.

V. Solution: (Giang)
- Having a conversation about mental health with your parents, friends and loved ones, if
possible. This action can help you understand their points of view and recognize things
you may not acknowledge about certain problems or misunderstandings at the same time.
- The develop extensive awareness events (grammar) highlight the importance of mental
health in our daily life. Not only will they inform people about the tricky situations has no
solutions yet but also a way to honor the beauty of mental health in various aspects of life
(unclear, incoherent).
Example: 10/10 October 10th is World Mental Health Day, the overall objective of it is to
raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in
support of mental health. This special day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders
working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done
to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
- Organize a variety of volunteer activities that focused on mental health issues. These
kinds of activities foster a sense of community and connection among participants,
encouraging individuals to support one another
(Having ≠ Organize)
VD:??? BasicNeeds Vietnam received the permission of the Government of Vietnam to wor
k in Vietnam in early 2011 as an international NGO (Non-Governmental Organization). Bas
icNeeds has developed a model for Mental Health and Development which employs a devel
opmental approach to community-based mental health intervention with an emphasis on
sustainability. Moreover, it’s easy to find volunteering opportunities in their community. T
hese efforts have significantly contributed to raising awareness of mental health among th
e Vietnamese people in particular and the world in general.
(Please revise your part)

VII. Counter-argument: (Khoa và Nguyên)

1. How about people who know a lot?
 a) Current situation: Though there are many who deny or refuse to embrace the
essence of mental health, some people have good awareness and knowledge of it.
Unfortunately, a group of people has weaponized it. They exploit their understanding of
human mentality to do harm on other people or for their own good.
b) Causes:
– Greed: Some people want to make “dirty” money through tricking people into their own
trap, such as those working in multi-level marketing models.
– Desire to manipulate others: This is easily observable in certain relationships such as
romantic and parents-child relationship. The manipulator often uses some sort of
techniques/methods like gaslighting or playing the victim card in an attempt to put the
manipulated under their control. For instance, in a romantic relationship, when arguing,
one side would try to blame the other with something they had done in the past in order to
make them feel guilty.
– Inappropriate material: There is content and influencers providing guidance on
psychological abuse in the market. Some of the notorious instances are Andrew Tate and
the book “The 48 Laws of Power”.
c) Solution:
– Exterminate all intoxicating contents and boycott influencers supporting mental
manipulation.
– Educate people with proper knowledge of human psychology and mentality.

2. The view from us, the young generation:

As shown, adults do not acknowledge how much mental issues could badly affect
our life. However, we need to have empathy for them, too. Our country has gone through
decades of war, suffering from the unbearable pain that we, the youngster, cannot even
fathom. Peace was a luxury for them back in those days, and not all wounds are completely
healed now. Some people criticize their parents for not understanding what they are going
through, but it seems that they, too, do not know what kinds of agony they had endured all
that time. It’s important to let them know that you need assistance and it is also okay for
them to open up and ask for help. Remember that love and growth come from both sides.

VIII. Ending: (Koly)

The mental health of young people in Vietnam is facing numerous challenges, from academ
ic and work pressures to social stigma. In European countries, mental health is considered
as normal as taking medicine when one is physically ill. However, in Asia, especially in Viet
nam, this issue is often overlooked and regarded as sensitive. Although awareness of ment
al health is gradually improving, much effort is still needed to provide information and sup
port for both young and old people.
To create a positive and healthy environment, society needs to encourage openness in disc
ussing mental health while investing in mental health support programs and education. On
ly when individuals feel secure and supported can they fully develop and lead happy, fulfilli
ng lives.