Nguyen Thi Thanh's two children share about their current life.
Like VTC News reflected, from a well-off family, suddenly in 2001, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh's family in Thanh Van commune (now Van Du town, Thach Thanh, Thanh Hoa) suddenly sold out of herds of cattle, bought thousands of bowls, thousands of plowshares, tons of iron and steel to hang on trees and bury in the garden, in the house...
After that, Mrs. Thanh's mother and daughter almost completely cut off contact with the outside world and only when the family ran out of necessary necessities did Mr. Mai Hong Thai (Mrs. Thanh's husband) show up, but dressed extremely strangely to buy necessities, then returned to hide in the mysterious garden.
In 2022, both Mrs. Thanh and Mr. Thai died. Many people were worried about their two children, Mai Thi Thanh and Mai Van Toan, because although their parents chose to live an eccentric lifestyle, their grandparents were still the support for the two sisters.
Although relatives and neighbors have no advice to stop, but Thanh and Toan sisters still dress strangely as before, choose a life separate from society, without electricity, without clean water, refusing to help people ...
The mysterious stories surrounding 2 generations of the Thanh - Thai family for decades have not been answered. There are many rumors that the area of Bui temple (Van Du town, Thach Thanh district) - where Mrs. Thanh's family lives, is an evil land, that family committed a "heavenly" crime, so they were punished, called a "negative army" family. Or in the words of Mrs. Mai Thi Tinh (Thai's sister), "Mr. Thai and his family were possessed by ghosts".
Bringing the matter to the doctors in the psychiatric profession, many people think that it is likely that the so-called "yin soldier" family has a form of mental illness.
TS.BS Tran Thi Hong Thu - Deputy Director of Mai Huong Psychiatric Hospital (Hanoi) - said more clearly through the media, she knows the story of a family living almost completely disconnected from society in Thanh Hoa since 2017.
Dr. BS Tran Thi Hong Thu
"From jobs, press expressions reflect, there is a high possibility that people in that family have mental problems. I emphasize the possibility because in terms of science, pathology to diagnose requires data. Must be approached, examined, talked to be able to confirm", said Dr. BS Hong Thu.
According to her, it is the lack of medical assessment that over the years, public opinion has not been able to explain the eccentric life of Mrs. Thanh and her family members. At the same time, they use spiritual reasons to explain themselves when referring to that family.
"Or the rumors that Thanh has a mental illness and then infects her husband and children are unscientific. Mental illness is not spread through contact as well as through daily family activities such as eating, studying, working together… The simple explanation for the eccentric expression of the whole family is that Ms. Thanh may have the disease, she has control over the economy, so she commands her husband and children to obey.", analyzed by Dr. BS Hong Thu.
She said that if mental illness is not treated, it will get worse, but Thanh and Toan have no such symptoms. On the contrary, they began to plant crops, raise livestock, and interact with neighbors, even if only very little after their parents died.
"I surmised maybe the cousin had a personality disorder – a mental disorder. Unlike mental illness, personality disorder is fixed and persistent in manifestation. After decades of living separately from society, they have not been able to adapt, change their lifestyle, and eat even though there is no one to direct them.," said the expert.
Dr. Tran Thi Hong Thu also mentioned some characteristics of personality disorder such as lack of interest in social or personal relationships, preferring to be alone; limited emotional expression; inability to receive normal social cues; showing coldness or indifference towards others…
According to Ms. Thu, the family and local authorities need to have a plan to take Thanh and Toan for assessment of mental illnesses to determine the extent of the disease and for treatment.
"In the 2000s, the government took their family to see a doctor, but received a negative response and we were not drastic, so the matter lasted until now. They must definitely be examined, if they have a mental illness, they must be put into compulsory treatment, which is the patient's right.", Deputy Director of Mai Huong Psychiatric Hospital added.
Two aunts talk about the life of Mai Thi Thanh and Mai Van Toan.
