#015 – To review, assess and synthesize existing evidence, guidance, tools and good practices on child and youth mental health care and support, and to develop recommendations for an appropriate and feasible model for Viet Nam.

1. Background:
   Mental health is an essential component of the health and well-being of children and young people and is fundamental to their healthy development, learning, relationships and participation in society. Mental health problems may emerge early in life and require coordinated approaches to promotion, prevention, early identification, psychosocial support, referral and continued care across different settings.
   In Viet Nam, child and youth mental health is increasingly reflected in national policies and programmes. The Law on Disease Prevention and Decree No. 165/2026/ND-CP, which provides detailed guidance for implementation of the Law, provide an important legal framework for mental health promotion, prevention, early identification and support. The regulatory framework also emphasizes the role of educational and community settings in promoting mental health, identifying risks and providing appropriate support and referral.
   The National Programme on School Health for 2026–2035, approved under Decision No. 973/QĐ-TTg, further highlights mental health as an integral component of school health. The Programme includes mental health education and care, school psychological counselling, support for learners at psychological risk, life skills and coping-skills education, and stronger coordination between educational institutions, families and health services. It also calls for the development and scaling up of appropriate school-based health models. In addition, the Programme on Child Mental Health Care and Care for Orphaned Children for 2023–2030, approved under Decision No. 1591/QĐ-TTg, aims to ensure that children with mental health problems or at high risk have access to appropriate counselling, psychological and social support services in schools, health facilities, social assistance facilities, child protection service providers and communities. The Programme also promotes diverse and flexible models of care, including family-based alternative care and stronger coordination among relevant sectors and services.
   The Ministry of Health is also developing guidance on mental health at the primary health care level. The review and assessment under this consultancy therefore provides an opportunity to identify evidence and good practices that can inform the integration of child and youth mental health into PHC and CHS services and contribute to the strengthening of CHS capacity and PHC-level guidance.
   These policy developments provide an important foundation for strengthening child and youth mental healthcare and support in Viet Nam. However, there is a need to better understand what models and approaches are effective, feasible and adaptable to the Vietnamese context, including how different levels of support can be organized across families, schools, communities and health and social services.
   WHO Viet Nam therefore seeks to engage a qualified institution to review and assess relevant national and international evidence, guidance, tools, service models and good practices on child and youth mental healthcare and support; synthesize key findings and lessons learned; and propose an appropriate model or set of models for Viet Nam. The work will pay particular attention to approaches that are evidence-informed, feasible within the existing health, education and social support systems, and adaptable to different settings and population groups.

    

2. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation):
   Start date: 01/10/2026
   End date: 31/12/2026

    

3. Work to be performed
   The contract holder is expected to carry out the following tasks:
   1. Review relevant national and international policies, guidance, evidence, tools, service models and good practices on child and youth mental health care and support;
   2. Map and assess existing child and youth mental health care and support models in Viet Nam across families, schools, communities and other relevant settings;
   3. Identify and assess relevant national and international good practices, including their evidence base, delivery approaches, human resource requirements, referral mechanisms, feasibility and sustainability;
   4. Assess approaches for integrating child and youth mental health into school health and PHC/CHS services, including the identification and management of mild and moderate conditions and referral to specialized services;
   5. Identify key lessons, enabling factors and challenges for adapting and scaling up relevant approaches in Viet Nam;
   6. Develop options and recommendations for an appropriate and feasible child and youth mental health care and support model or combination of models for Viet Nam, including key components, delivery platforms, referral pathways and roles of relevant actors;
   7. Identify recommendations for strengthening school health and PHC/CHS capacity and informing the development and implementation of mental health guidance at the PHC level;
   8. Present and discuss findings with WHO and relevant stakeholders, incorporate feedback and finalize the outputs

    

Full proposal with estimation of costs, description of technical team, and supporting documents should be received on/before 10 September 2026 and should be addressed to:
Administrative Officer
World Health Organization
UN Building, 304 Kim Ma Street,
Hanoi, Viet Nam
OR
wpvnmhle@who.int
For further information on this TOR, please contact:
wpvnmwr@who.int