Integrating climate change into mental health policy
Categories: Climate-informed health programmes, Health systems wide resilience
Country: Viet Nam
Organizations: Ministry of Health Viet Nam
The intervention
Mental health issues, including those linked to climate change, are increasingly recognised in Viet Nam. However, mental health services remain limited, with only 605 psychiatrists (0.62 per 100,000 people) and three mental health nurses per 100,000 - far below global averages. Care remains focused on pharmacological treatment, with psychotherapy and preventive approaches underdeveloped. To address these gaps, the Government issued the National Plan to Prevent and Control Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health Disorders (2022-2025), which emphasises prevention, early detection, and management of mental disorders. A comprehensive chapter on mental health prevention, aligned with climate and health priorities, is being incorporated into the draft Disease Prevention Law.
Success factors
The inclusion of climate change and mental health in Viet Nam’s draft Disease Prevention Law reflects strong alignment with WHO’s recommendations on addressing their interlinkages. The process was driven by technical collaboration between the Viet Nam Administration of Disease Prevention (VADP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and key national experts. Their engagement ensured that environmental health content and climate considerations were systematically integrated into multiple provisions of the law related to mental health. This multi-stakeholder approach strengthened both the policy’s technical foundation and its relevance to Viet Nam’s evolving health and climate context.
Recommendations
Replication of this initiative should begin by strengthening Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) at the primary care level and integrating it within climate and health programs. Climate considerations must be embedded into mental health policies - and vice versa - to ensure coherence across sectors. Building local research capacity, identifying credible champions, and ensuring rapid dissemination of new evidence will accelerate scale-up efforts. Implementation should adopt a multisectoral, community-based, and participatory approach that prioritises equity and inclusion, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized populations. Addressing gaps in financing and human resources is critical for sustainability. Finally, aligning national efforts with global commitments such as the SDGs, Paris Agreement, and Sendai Framework can reinforce resilience and long-term impact.
Key resources
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