(From left to right) Mr. Nouanthong Souvanvixay, Deputy Secretary General of the Lao Youth Union;

Ambassador Deena Joy Amatong; and Ms. Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Laos Country Representative

(Photo courtesy of the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane)

Vientiane, 03 June 2022 – The Government of the Philippines, through the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Laos, had a launching ceremony on 03 June 2022 at the UN House in Vientiane to support ongoing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activities of the Lao Youth Union (LYU) for Lao women and youth. 

The USD 10,000.00 contribution of the Philippine Government to the UNFPA will cover the costs of the implementation of the MHPSS program by enhancing the hotlines run by the Lao Youth Union, Lao Women’s Union and Vientiane Youth Center, and by building the capacity of nine Lao counselors in providing counseling services on sexual reproductive health, gender, education, relationships and social protection issues, among others.

Around 3,600 Lao youth and adolescents are expected to benefit from this program which will run until the end of 2022. The MHPSS was launched in 2020 to address the mental health and psychosocial needs of Lao women and youth, which were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, over 120,000 adolescents were able to access the mental health services online, through the Noi app, by phone and in person.  

The Lao PDR is home to 7.1 million people, nearly 60% of whom are under the age of 25. END.

Representatives from the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, the UNFPA Laos and Lao Youth Union

(Photo courtesy of the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane)