On July 24, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital (VNCH) welcomed a delegation of experts from the Free University of Berlin (Germany) for discussions on collaboration in the field of child and adolescent psychotherapy.
This visit builds on previous cooperation between the two institutions, including specialized training sessions on adolescent mental health care, which attracted strong participation from VNCH’s doctors and psychologists, as well as professionals from regional healthcare facilities across northern Vietnam.
During the meeting, Professor Claudia Calvano from the Department of Education and Psychology, the Free of University of Berlin, specializing in child and adolescent psychotherapy, expressed her desire to establish a long-term partnership with the hospital.
Professor Calvano had previously led several successful training sessions on child mental health at VNCH.
In response, Dr. Cao Viet Tung, Vice Director of VNCH, extended his appreciation and proposed several key areas for potential collaboration:
- Advanced training and academic exchange opportunities for VNCH medical staff at the Free University of Berlin;
- Joint support in developing and optimizing pediatric mental health systems in Vietnam;
- Capacity building and professional development for VNCH’s Departments of Psychiatry and Adolescent Health.
Dr. Tung expressed hope that these proposals will soon translate into concrete, practical initiatives that contribute to shared goals in pediatric mental health.
“We look forward to transforming these discussions into meaningful actions that benefit children and adolescents in both countries,” Dr. Tung said.
Professor Calvano agreed with the proposed directions and reaffirmed the Free University of Berlin’s commitment to expanding regional partnerships and building standardized models of mental health care for children.
Looking ahead, both sides plan to draft and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), laying the foundation for a long-term strategic partnership in child mental health.
As part of the working session on July 24, Professor Claudia Calvano and Dr. Susanne Birnkammer from the Free University of Berlin conducted a professional exchange on the topic: “Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: Exposure Principles in Anxiety Treatment.” The session provided valuable insights and up-to-date knowledge in the field of child and adolescent mental health.
