Mental health is becoming one of the top priorities of the modern public health system. Faced with increasing social pressures, the Disease Prevention Law No. 114/2025/QH15 has introduced landmark regulations in Chapter III (from Article 31 to Article 33) to establish a network for the prevention and control of mental disorders right from the community level. For medical staff, mastering these regulations is not only to perform professional duties correctly but also to protect the legitimate rights of patients.

Identifying risk factors and prevention strategies

The 2025 Disease Prevention Law identifies mental disorders arising from four main groups of risk factors: biological and genetic; psychological; social; and other risk factors. Any individual with at least one of these factors is considered at risk of developing a mental disorder and needs to be detected early, managed, monitored, and provided with appropriate psychosocial support.

The prevention strategy is implemented synchronously at two levels. At the community level, the focus is on raising awareness, education, and recommending healthy lifestyles. At specific units such as families, educational institutions, and workplaces, the Law prioritizes protecting vulnerable groups, including: pupils, students, workers, pregnant women, mothers raising children under 24 months old, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those who have just experienced psychological trauma after incidents or disasters.

Comprehensive medical and social management and care

When an individual has contracted a mental disorder, the core goal of grassroots healthcare is community-based management to prevent disease aggravation, prevent dangerous complications, and limit recurrence. According to Article 32, patients are provided with medical and social care services appropriate to their pathological condition.

Medical staff play a key role in counseling, controlling impacting factors, and guiding patients to comply with treatment protocols. Coordination between medical measures (such as medication, therapy) and social support (such as rehabilitation, community integration) is the key to maintaining stability for patients.

Patient rights and community responsibilities

A highlight of the 2025 Disease Prevention Law is the protection of human rights for people with mental disorders. Article 33 clearly stipulates that patients have the right to be screened, psychologically supported, and not to be abused, stigmatized, or discriminated against. They need to be prioritized in medical care and development support.

Besides, the Law also stipulates strict responsibilities for relevant parties:

• Families and caregivers: Responsible for respecting, caring for, and coordinating with medical agencies in treatment.
• Social assistance facilities: Provide counseling services, psychological recovery, and communication to raise social awareness.
• Local authorities: Responsible for arranging funds, organizing monitoring, supervision, and implementing prevention measures in the management area.

Conclusion

The work of preventing and controlling mental disorders under the 2025 Disease Prevention Law has shifted from a hospital-centric model to a community-based prevention and management model. This requires medical staff to have a multidimensional view of bio-psycho-social factors, while simultaneously performing the role of connecting patients, families, and social organizations to create a humane and effective recovery environment.

Le Viet Anh, MPH – Center for Support & Continuing Education