At the international workshop on psychological counseling and therapy for couples and families, organized by the International Association for Marriage and Family Counseling (IAMFC) and Fulbright University Vietnam on May 28th, Dr. Martina Moore, President of IAMFC, stated that mental health issues are very common in Vietnamese families as well as in other countries.
Psychologist Martina Moore (center) and psychologist Nathan Gehlert (far right) share their insights at the conference.
According to Dr. Martina Moore, in the US, the divorce rate for first marriages is approximately 40%-50%, increasing to 60% and even higher for second marriages. In Vietnam, this rate is less than 1%, due to the strong emphasis on family values. However, mental health issues within marriage have not received adequate attention, and not many people choose pre-marital counseling.
"Many people go undiagnosed with mental health problems because they don't seek treatment, allowing these problems to worsen. The consequences directly impact both the individuals themselves and the community. The children are the most severely affected," commented Dr. Martina Moore.
The workshop attracted many participants.
Martina Moore argues that there are currently many prejudices against mental health checkups. The more prejudice there is, the fewer people will seek treatment for mental health issues. Pre-marital counseling is essential; couples need to carefully consider whether they truly want to get married.
Workshop participants interact with experts.
Martina Moore advises couples to seek psychological counseling as soon as they experience signs of stress, to avoid serious developments such as anxiety disorders and depression. Currently, most people with mental health problems only seek treatment when they are in an advanced stage. This leads to more severe symptoms, longer treatment times, and reduced chances of improvement.
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