Challenging internal stigma and improving mental health among key populations through community, creativity and connection.

In Vietnam, Beyond Stigma works alongside community organisations and people with lived experience to address one of the most overlooked barriers to wellbeing—internal stigma.

Together, we have developed innovative, evidence-informed programmes that support people to question shame, strengthen self-worth and build healthier, more connected lives.

The Challenge

From fear to self-love

For many marginalised communities, stigma is experienced not only through stigma and discrimination from others, but through the beliefs people begin to hold about themselves.

Research conducted by Beyond Stigma and SCDI with sex workers and other key population groups* in Vietnam found that internal stigma had profound effects on mental wellbeing, self-worth, relationships and quality of life. These insights became the foundation for Beyond Stigma's work in Vietnam.

* Sex workers (SW), People who Use Drugs (PUD), Transgender (TG), People Living with HIV (PLHIV), Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)

Community Led Innovation

Co-creating new approaches.

Between 2017 and 2018, Beyond Stigma partnered with the Centre for Supporting Community Development Initiatives (SCDI) and community members to develop an innovative programme addressing self-stigma among sex workers.

The programme was designed and refined through collaboration with participants themselves, ensuring it reflected their experiences, language and priorities.

Together, they created safe spaces where people could explore difficult beliefs, challenge self-judgement and reconnect with their inherent worth.

Our Approach

Evidence meets lived experience.

The Vietnam programme combines:

- Inquiry-Based Stress Reduction (IBSR)
- Creativity and storytelling
- Music and meditation
- Reflective writing
- Group dialogue and peer support
- Community-led facilitation
These approaches encourage participants to question deeply held beliefs, strengthen emotional resilience and develop practical tools they can continue using in everyday life.

Embrace Yourself

Continuing the conversation.

Created for social media and community groups to support ongoing learning and awareness of internal stigma, the series explores topics including:

Self-stigma
Shame
Self-worth
Thoughts and thinking
Relationships
Emotional wellbeing

This series was created for the communities SCDI supports and include:
- People living with HIV
- Sex workers
- Transgender people
- Men who have sex with men
- People who use drugs
- Other marginalised communities
By making these conversations more accessible, the project continues to reach people wherever they are.

Check out Embrace Yourself Series

Research & Innovation

Building new ways to measure wellbeing.

Beyond Stigma's work in Vietnam has contributed not only to programme development but also to research innovation.

Working with partners including the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and SCDI, the team developed a prototype for a Living Well Scale, a new tool designed to measure wellbeing and psychosocial outcomes in community-based programmes.

This work reflects Beyond Stigma's commitment to combining research, lived experience and practical implementation to strengthen the global evidence on internal stigma.

Our Partners

Creating change together.

Beyond Stigma works alongside trusted partners in Vietnam, including:

- Centre for Supporting Community Development Initiatives (SCDI)
- Community peer leaders
- People with lived experience
- Researchers
- Healthcare professionals
- International academic partners
Together, these collaborations ensure programmes remain community-led, culturally relevant and evidence-informed.

LOOKING AHEAD

Strengthening communities through shared learning.

Strengthening communities through shared learning - mental health-related stigma and identity-related internal stigma

Beyond Stigma continues to work alongside communities in Vietnam to expand access to practical tools that address internal stigma and promote positive mental wellbeing.

In 2026/2027 Beyond Stigma is working with SCDI to integrate a version of Wakakosha into an existing mental health project. We are working with mental health-related stigma, and identity-related internal stigma among communities from key populations.

Future priorities include strengthening digital learning, supporting community leadership, advancing research and sharing lessons that can inform programmes across Asia and beyond.

The work in Vietnam demonstrates that when communities are trusted to lead, supported by research and lived experience, meaningful and lasting change becomes possible.