Student aims to improve mental health care in Vietnam

A Masters student in psychology is setting her sights on helping young women struggling with mental health in her native Vietnam.

MSc Psychology student Truc Do came to Essex from Vietnam, where she worked as a Research Assistant at RMIT University and a clinical trainee at FV Hospital. Her experiences highlighted gaps in mental health care.

“There is currently little support for young women in Vietnam struggling with mental illness,” explained Truc. “I want to use the knowledge I gain from my postgraduate studies to better understand and help that community.”

As one of Women of the Future scholars, Truc received vital financial support to study in the UK.

“The name of the scholarship caught my attention because it helps promote gender diversity,” added Truc. “The Women of the Future scholarships enable talented women around the world to not only obtain an international-standard Masters degree but also to become ‘change agents’ in their home countries.”

Truc chose Essex because our MSc Psychology is professionally accredited, and was also attracted by our research rankings and facilities.

“I’ve been able to gain first-hand experience of psychological research through my department’s Research Experience Scheme, which will enhance my career employability in the future,” she said. “The department also holds weekly seminars where academics and guest speakers talk about their research, so I feel really up-to-date with the latest psychology research.”

With particular interests in developmental psychology and neuropsychology, Truc aims to complete a second, specialist Masters and then to progress to a PhD, before returning to Vietnam to apply what she’s learnt.