Quang Tri: Advanced training on psychological support for persons with disabilities and their families

The training gathered 32 participants, including commune-level health staff, representatives from multidisciplinary mental health support groups such as the Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC), Quang Tri Medical College, Quang Tri General Hospital, the Village Health Association, and peer counselors from the Quang Tri Organisation of Persons with disabilities (Quang Tri OPD).

Guided by Mr. Nguyen Van Manh, M.A. in Clinical Psychology, the training covered advanced content such as:

• Applying the biopsychosocial model in assessing psychological issues;
• Practicing advanced screening tools;
• Applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in group support;
• Skills for facilitating and organizing group support sessions.

The advanced training not only reinforced the knowledge from the basic course but also enabled participants to practice group facilitation skills, receive feedback, and strengthen their confidence in applying what they learned. This serves as important preparation for the project’s next steps: conducting community-based screenings and organizing group support sessions for persons with disabilities and their families.

Image: The trainee presents on psychological support and mental health care for persons with disabilities

The training received positive feedback from participants.

Ms. N.T.N, a peer counselor from the Quang tri OPD, shared: “Having worked with persons with disabilities in the community for many years, I see that they and their families face many psychological and mental health challenges. This training was truly meaningful. I gained essential knowledge and skills, learned how to use screening tools, and now feel more confident to facilitate group sessions in my community.”

Ms. L.T.L.G, staff at Trieu Long Commune Health Station, said: “The training was very useful for me. The combination of theory and practice helped us understand the content more deeply and be better prepared to identify, screen, and support persons with disabilities and their families with mental health difficulties.”

Mr. N.T.B, lecturer at Quang Tri Medical College, noted: “What makes this training special is the participation of not only health staff and professionals from related sectors, but also peer counselors who are persons with disabilities themselves. I believe this will be a core force to accompany health workers in providing psychological support in the community.”

With the collaboration of the health workforce, training institutions, and organizations of persons with disabilities, the project is expected to strengthen mental health support, promote independent living, and foster social inclusion for persons with disabilities in Quang Tri province.