In Australia, it’s estimated that 45% of people aged 18-85 years will suffer mental health issues in their life time. Fortunately, we live in a country with an abundance of resources and health care services available to help tackle these issues.

On 28 August 2015, some of our local Vietnamese volunteers provided breakfast sponsored by AVCF to 190 psychiatric patients at the Da Nang Mental Hospital. Patients were also supplied a basic hygiene and essentials pack consisting of a tooth brush, toothpaste, cleaning soap and rubber sandals.

Too often we forget in our beautiful, comfortable Western world that there are our fellow brothers and sisters devoid of human dignity. These patients suffer enormously with the burden of mental illness which have rendered them inanimate and unable to integrate back into society.

By sacrificing just a little bit of our daily luxuries – like that cup of coffee bought every morning – we can provide positive change and impact to ease the pain and sufferings of those much less fortunate than us.