Silent Scars: Aftermath of The Vietnam War on Vietnamese Mental Health
By Faizan A. Rakin
Introduction
The Vietnam War (1955-1975) not only devastated the country physically but also inflicted profound psychological wounds that continue to affect millions of Vietnamese people to this day. The traumatic effects of the war have rippled through generations, affecting veterans, civilians, and refugees. With long-lasting mental health challenges, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mood disorders, the legacy of war trauma in Vietnam is one of the most significant public health issues in the country’s modern history.
PTSD Among War Veterans & Refugees
In the aftermath of the war, millions of Vietnamese people were displaced, either fleeing the country or resettling in foreign lands, especially in the United States. Refugees, including adults and children, left behind not just their homes but also their former lives, many carrying deep emotional scars. PTSD, a common psychological disorder that results from experiencing or witnessing trauma, is rampant among both Vietnamese war veterans and civilians.
Studies from the U.S., Australia, and Norway highlight the high prevalence of PTSD among Vietnamese refugees, with rates estimated at around 50% in some resettled populations . The disorder often coexists with depression, and some reports indicate that up to 70% of Southeast Asian refugees receiving mental health care were diagnosed with PTSD. This intertwined mental health burden points to the severe psychological toll of the war on those who survived its horrors. For many, flashbacks, nightmares, and vivid memories of atrocities like the fall of Saigon and the brutality of re-education camps remain a constant presence.
In Vietnamese culture, mental health remains a deeply taboo subject. Conditions like PTSD and depression are often seen as signs of weakness or even a curse, causing many to avoid seeking the help they need. For those who fled Vietnam as refugees, the struggle is even greater. Language barriers in their new countries make it hard to communicate their mental health challenges, leaving many, especially older adults, to suffer in silence without access to proper care. The stigma, combined with cultural and linguistic obstacles, keeps them from getting the support they deserve.
Gaps in Treatment & Care
For those still living in Vietnam, mental health care remains vastly underdeveloped. Despite the country’s economic progress, its mental health infrastructure is inadequate to address the needs of its war-torn population. Vietnam’s mental health services are heavily reliant on drug treatments, with limited access to therapy, counseling, and holistic care.
The last official national survey on mental health, conducted in 2003, estimated that 14.9% of Vietnam’s population suffered from common mental disorders, including depression and anxiety. However, this survey likely underestimates the true scale of the problem, as it excluded many other disorders and focused mainly on conditions like schizophrenia and epilepsy. As a result, PTSD and other trauma-related disorders remain largely undiagnosed and untreated.
Vietnamese war veterans represent a particularly vulnerable group. There are at least 2.6 million war veterans in Vietnam, but due to the country’s inadequate mental health services, the exact number suffering from mental disorders remains unknown . Many veterans continue to battle the emotional aftermath of the war, often suffering from undiagnosed mood disorders such as paranoia, depression, and anxiety.
One of the key obstacles to mental health reform in Vietnam is the lack of resources and trained professionals. According to a 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) study, the country had just 50 trained psychologists and 286 psychiatrists, most of whom worked in mental hospitals. This severe shortage of mental health workers means that many people with mental illnesses, including war veterans, go without adequate care.
The Impact of War Trauma
The effects of the Vietnam War on mental health extend beyond the immediate survivors. Intergenerational trauma, the passing of psychological wounds from one generation to another, is prevalent among Vietnamese families affected by the war. Children of those suffering from PTSD often witness their parents' emotional instability, fear, and anxiety, which can shape their own mental health and behavior.
The transmission of war trauma is a complex and poorly understood phenomenon, but it is clear that the emotional scars of one generation can deeply influence the next. In the Vietnamese American community, for example, younger generations are increasingly affected by their parents' and grandparents' war experiences, leading to a perpetuation of the mental health crisis.
Efforts & The Road Ahead
Despite the challenges, there have been efforts to improve Vietnam’s mental health system. In recent years, the government has started to explore more holistic treatment programs, including community-based schemes. Initiatives like the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) have established mental health treatment programs in some provinces, integrating drug treatments with counseling and social services.
However, these efforts remain fragmented and underfunded. Vietnam’s mental health infrastructure is still heavily dependent on outdated systems that do not prioritize preventive care or the comprehensive treatment of mood disorders like PTSD and depression. The government’s recent 9 year mental health project, launched in 2011, aimed to address some of these gaps, but the lack of human resources and financial support continues to hinder progress.
In the meantime, millions of Vietnamese people continue to suffer in silence, their mental health needs overshadowed by more pressing public health concerns. For war veterans and civilians alike, the psychological wounds of the Vietnam War remain open, even decades after the conflict ended. Without a more coordinated and well-resourced mental health system, Vietnam’s war-torn population will continue to struggle with the lingering ghosts of the past.
Conclusion
The Vietnam War left a deep and lasting mark on the mental health of countless individuals, from veterans to civilians. PTSD, depression, and anxiety are still common, made worse by a lack of awareness and proper care. Both in Vietnam and among its diaspora, many continue to quietly struggle with the emotional scars of the war. Now more than ever, there is an urgent need for compassionate, culturally sensitive mental health support to help these communities heal. Investing in mental health resources, education, and services is key to addressing the lasting trauma that so many still endure.
Works Cited
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Mike, Ives, and Na Son Nguyen. “The mental scars of Vietnam’s war veterans | Health.” Al Jazeera, 22 January 2016, https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2016/1/22/the-mental-scars-of-vietnams-war-veterans. Accessed 30 September 2024.
VietNam News. “14 million people suffer from mental disorders in Việt Nam.” VietNam News, 9 August 2023, https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1582203/14-million-people-suffer-from-mental-disorders-in-viet-nam.html. Accessed 30 September 2024.
World Health Organization. “Mental health in Viet Nam.” World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/vietnam/health-topics/mental-health. Accessed 30 September 2024.
Yale Medicine Magazine. “The unseen wounds of war < Yale School of Medicine.” Yale School of Medicine, 2005, https://medicine.yale.edu/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/the-unseen-wounds-of-war/. Accessed 30 September 2024.
