Surprising statistics on school psychology.

With the rapid development of society and increased exposure to the internet and modern technology, family members have less time to care for and support each other. This lack of connection between parents and children means that negative attitudes among young people go undetected and uncorrected, leading to many unfortunate consequences.

According to MSc-Dr. Pham Van Giao, Director of the Institute of Applied Psychological and Educational Sciences, the issue of school psychology in Vietnam is currently very tense and in crisis. This puts great pressure on schools, authorities, and parents.

MSc - Doctor Pham Van Giao emphasized the need to strengthen school psychological counseling services.

According to data extracted from the education sector's database, from the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year to the present, there have been 27 incidents of school violence involving 108 people nationwide.

According to a 2023 report by the Ministry of Health , an estimated 3.2 million Vietnamese people suffer from depression. Of these, the 18-29 age group has the highest prevalence rate (5.4%); the prevalence rate is higher in women (4.2%) than in men (2.1%).

Another study by the Population Services International (PSI) indicates that over 10% of unmarried Vietnamese women (aged 15-24) have experienced at least one unintended pregnancy. This leads to numerous cases of abortion, dropping out of school, avoiding family, social isolation, financial hardship, and more.

In June 2022, the Vietnam Family Planning Association announced that on average, nearly 300,000 abortions are performed nationwide each year, with 70% of the cases involving students.

Students need psychological support and care from both schools and parents. (Photo: Hue Xuan)

Several surveys on gender in schools show that nearly 20% of students identify themselves as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender).

Dr. Giao suggests that this could be due to students having preferences that differ from the norms of the four genders (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) or being influenced by unreliable sources of information on the internet. However, from a physiological standpoint, this is not entirely accurate; children may be questioning their gender identity if they are not properly educated and supported.

The above figures demonstrate the importance of school psychological counseling. Since the end of 2017, counseling has been addressed and organized in most schools, but the established School Psychological Counseling Centers have not been effective. The number of school counselors in the Southern region has gradually increased over the years, from 0.34 people per school in 2013-2014 to 1.09 people per school currently.

"Although there has been an increase, the number of counselors/schools is still too small given the current student population," affirmed Dr. Giao.

Psychologists believe that school counseling not only helps students resolve their problems effectively but also supports the improvement of relationships with teachers, parents, friends, etc. Counseling helps students quickly resolve difficult situations in their studies and lives. At the same time, it helps them lead healthier, more comfortable lives, reducing stress and pressure so they can study and live happily and effectively.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/bat-ngo-ve-nhung-con-so-tam-ly-hoc-duong-196240805085719174.htm