“Unexpressed Emotions Will Never Die. They Are Buried Alive and Will Come Forth Later in Uglier Ways.”
Sigmund Freud
Dr Vy was born in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam where mental health is rarely discussed and often has negative connotations. She has always been immensely interested in the psychological aspects of illnesses, relationships and their impact on people's lives. After studying Medicine at Leicester university, UK, she worked at University College Hospital, London as a general medical doctor before specialising in Psychiatry at Oxford. Dr Vy also undertook a Master in Child and Adolescent mental health at The Institute of Child Health, University College London.
Dr Vy has worked with children, adolescents and adults in government hospitals as well as in the private sector in the UK. Her special interests are neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder) and Peri-natal Psychiatry.
Following over twenty years of studying and working in the UK, Dr Vy has realised that there is still a lack of knowledge and misinformation of mental health disorders amongst the public in Vietnam. Although the parents of affected children have become more inquisitive and actively seek information and treatments for their children, service provision in Vietnam remains limited. Therefore, Dr Vy is determined to return to her hometown to raise awareness of mental health and hope to reduce its associated stigma. She also hopes to alleviate the suffering of affected individuals, their carers and family members by offering accurate diagnosis and appropriate interventions when indicated. Dr Vy believes that a holistic approach of combining the body and the mind is necessary to achieve and maintain a balanced life. She often incorporates psychoeducation (simplified psychotherapeutic techniques), lifestyle and diet modification with medication.
Qualifications and membership
- Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Medicine, UK
- Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK
- Master of Science in Child and Adolescent mental health, Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK
- Certified user of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) and The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) - gold standard diagnostic instruments for assessing Autism Spectrum Disorder in children and adults.
Work experience
- 2021 – present Neuropsychiatrist, ADHD clinic, Neurodevelopmental Services, The Retreat, York, UK (remote working)
- 2019 – present General Psychiatrist
- Ambassador for Neurodiversity, Saigonchildren CIO, HCM
- Adviser for Beautiful Mind (NGO) participating in webminars and events to raise public awareness, supporting young people with mental health disorders, Vietnam
- 2018 – 2019 Specialist doctor in Child and Adolescent unit, Priory hospital, Roehampton, UK
- 2016 – 2018 Specialist doctor in Forensic Psychiatry in a medium secure unit, Cygnet Hospital, Stevenage, UK
- 2013 – 2016 Psychiatry Training Scheme, Oxford Psychiatry School, NHS, UK
- Special interests: ADHD and Perinatal clinics
- 2010 – 2012 Foundation Doctor, University College London Hospital CNWL, NHS, UK
Public event
- 10/2023: ASD forum for parents and teachers, BIS, HCM
- 04/2023: Understanding and supporting students with neurodevepmental conditions, Vinschool, HCM
- 03/2023: Understanding the cultural challenges in recommending specialist support to Vietnamese families, FOBISIA, BIS, HCM
- 06/2020 – present TV educational series “Finding Hope” (Tìm Lại Ước Mơ) an to promote public awareness of mental health, specifically Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD, Vietnam
- 06/2020 Presentation and Q&A on ADHD for parents, VFIS school, HCM, Vietnam
- 09/2019 Q&A on Depression for the public, at book signing event “Trầm Cảm Sát thủ thầm lạng” (Depression – a silent killer), Book street, HCM, Vietnam
Services for Children, Adolescents and Adults
*Diagnostic assessment, management of psychiatric disorders including those below:
- Depression (also peri-natal depression)
- Bipolar Affective Disorder
- Anxiety Disorders (including specific phobias e.g. Selective Mutism)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Children and Adults)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Schizophrenia/ Psychotic episode
- Gender Dysphoria
- Eating Disorders (including Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia)
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD)
*Therapy for Depression and Anxiety Disorders
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Graded Exposure and Response Prevention for phobias)
Personal Interests
Dr Vy has a penchant for art and languages. She enjoys hosting dinners and traveling to experience different cultures and cuisines. She completed a Cuisine Diploma at Le Cordon Bleu to satiate her appetite for culinary art and French language.
Languages: fluent in English, Vietnamese and intermediate French
AZ, Clinical Manager, Cygnet hospital, Stevenage, UK
"Dr Vy Vu is a positive and passionate doctor. She is caring, takes time to listen and understand her patients. I have witnessed how her humbleness as a doctor has achieved outstanding results with patients. She is a doctor I will always count on and would work with over and over again"
DC, Hospital Director, Priory Hospital, North London, UK
"Dr Vy Vu is thoroughly professional. She is honest and works with integrity. The patients really engage with her client-centred approach"
Dr Donia Fahim, Autism Specialist, Speech and Language Therapist, International Educational Consultant
"Dr Vy Vu is a knowledgeable & compassionate clinician. Collaborating with her is always a pleasure"
KB, Children and Adolescent Mental Health nurse, Priory Hospital, Roehampton, UK
"It was wonderful to have Dr Vy as a part of our team. She was always so kind and cared about the staff as much as her patients"
TN, mother of a teenage girl with depression, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
"I am grateful that you are my child’s doctor. Thank you for your continuous support for our family"
HN, mother of a teenage girl who suffers from prolonged grief and social anxiety disorder, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
"I truly appreciate your dedicated support for my child and me"
T & T, daughters of a mother who suffers from paraphrenia, Phu Quoc, Vietnam
"We are so grateful that you’ve come back to Vietnam. We have looked for a doctor for our mum for many years. We are so glad we found you"
HN, sister of a young man who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia
"Thank you for your time, patience and support. We are so lucky to have met you"
HA – Britsih mother of two daughters at BIS
"Thank you for the email you sent me and school. It read so well. We really appreciated the appointment and I see already that it has helped my daughter. I'm very happy to have met you. It has also helped me feel more comfortable settling in here. You being Vietnamese and so easy to connect with just somehow let me feel more relaxed here, and calmer after the hectic, busy start in this crazy city. Also that help was available, I was not alone trying to settle both of my daughters"
Events
