During this visit, the two experts spent time working with Caritas Dalat to share knowledge and skills related to the programs within the Trong Duc Project.

The Program of Activities included:

July 27 and 29, 2024: The delegation of experts, along with Caritas staff from the Trong Duc Project, conducted field visits to the following centers:

• Trong Duc Social Protection Center (male and female wings)

• Hope Social Support Center (Bao Loc) of the Brothers of Charity

• Visiting 3 families of patients in the reintegration group.

The field trip aimed to provide the experts with a direct, visual understanding of the mental health care context in Lam Dong, as well as the community-based mental health care model being implemented by Caritas Dalat.

From July 30 to August 2, 2024, the two experts conducted training sessions for all staff of the Trong Duc Project, with the following specific topics:

• Day 1: The program focused on self and family, helping participants better understand themselves, the importance of family, and the family life cycle from marriage to its end. Understanding the family of a person with mental health issues is essential for staff to support patients more effectively.

• Day 2: The session explored factors influencing human personality and behavior, including genetics, health, living environment, family, childhood, past experiences, beliefs, and self. This helped participants gain a more holistic view of human beings.

• Day 3: Focused on mental health, helping participants grasp professional terminology and identify common manifestations of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder.

• Day 4: The session focused on essential skills for social work, emphasizing the 6 core beliefs of social workers, which include:

- Human beings are inherently good

- Human beings always possess potential

- Human beings have an unlimited capacity for self-expression

- Human behavior is predictable

- Human behavior can be modified

- Human behavior is modified through the family group

Dr. Rajaram facilitated the training sessions in a gentle manner, with content that was well-paced and easy to absorb. The sessions helped participants better understand themselves, their roles and responsibilities in family and society, as well as identify and comprehend issues related to mental health. Consequently, this enabled Caritas Dalat staff to gain a more comprehensive perspective, empathize with, and provide the best possible support to patients, while spreading these values within the wider community.

The program brought great meaning to the patients, their families, and the social workers themselves, contributing to enhancing the quality of mental health support and care.

Cil Thuy