“Duong Sinh TuNa” summarized by a rhythmic poem:
"Breath, Meditate, Relax, Exercise
Bathe, Toilet, Eat, Think Positively, Are All Daily Habits
A Good Foundation Builds a Healthy Home
Healthy Minds, Clearer Thinking, Helps Recovery"
“Duong Sinh TuNa” is a prevention and treatment method for mental disorders developed by Dr. Tran Tuan in 2008. It has been introduced as a treatment therapy for mental disorders and illnesses at the TuNa Clinic. In July 2009, the Duong Sinh TuNa was integrated into the palliative care package for people living with HIV/AIDS. It is delivered by mental health counselors at the Van Don out-patient clinic (OPC). The intervention takes place within the framework of a palliative care intervention programme funded by US-AID. The RTCCD-TuNa mental health research team, in co-operation with the Family Health International (FHI), launched the staff training, and established a mental health care service for the clients at the OPC, where there is no psychiatrist. From November 2009, all HIV clients of the OPC have been screened for mental disorders. For those whom are classified as having mental disorders (most often depression or anxiety) mental health counseling with Duong Sinh TuNa therapy is applied.
In May 2010, a delegation of US-AID experts conducted an assessment on the OPC activities, interviewed the mental health care service providers as well as the end-users in reference of intervention impacts. The visit concluded that “Duong Sinh TuNa is really a unique innovation - it greatly meets the needs of people who are suffering from depression and anxiety”. A case-study on “Mental Health Care and Support: FHI Viet Nam Program" by Mary Gutmann and Melissa Sharer published in the US-AID website (see link here) has described the Duong Sinh TuNa as “one of the most helpful services”.
Currently, FHI is preparing a new contract with the RTCCD to scale-up the model to two other OPCs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The training manual for Duong Sinh TuNa, which includes a user’s guide and video tape for both trainers and learners, is being developed and will be introduced in April 2011.