For ALL Women and Girls: Le Thi Ngoc Bich Shares How Caring for Caregivers Strengthens the Fight Against Gender-based Violence

Interviewer: Nguyen Khanh Linh
Editor: Ngo Le and Hoang Thao

#ForAllWomenandGirls a rallying call for action on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Le Thi Ngoc Bich – a counselor dedicate herself to supporting women and children escaping gender-based violence and human trafficking at the Peace House Shelter – shows how supporting frontline workers strengthens the entire system.

Le Thi Ngoc Bich (Ms), a senior counselor of Peace House Shelter. Photo: Courtesy of Le Thi Ngoc Bich

The Hidden Toll of Healing Hearts

At Peace House Shelter, Ngoc Bich has witnessed countless women and children fleeing gender-based violence. Yet amid her dedication to survivors, she discovered painful truth: healers often need healing themselves. “People ask if this job is dangerous," Bich says. "They should be asking if counselors need support too."

When COVID-19 lockdowns struck, desperate calls poured in from survivors trapped with abusers. Face-to-face support became impossible. Sleepless nights turned into self-doubt. "Was I making a difference or just drowning in anxiety?" she wondered.

"Burnout crept in. I withdrew from friends, lost interest in hobbies, and dreaded the sound of my phone ringing."

The Hidden Toll of Healing Hearts

At Peace House Shelter, Ngoc Bich has witnessed countless women and children fleeing gender-based violence. Yet amid her dedication to survivors, she discovered painful truth: healers often need healing themselves. “People ask if this job is dangerous," Bich says. "They should be asking if counselors need support too."

When COVID-19 lockdowns struck, desperate calls poured in from survivors trapped with abusers. Face-to-face support became impossible. Sleepless nights turned into self-doubt. "Was I making a difference or just drowning in anxiety?" she wondered.

"Burnout crept in. I withdrew from friends, lost interest in hobbies, and dreaded the sound of my phone ringing."

Finding Strength Through Mental Health Supports and Self-Care

Help arrived from within Peace House itself. Organization leaders, witnessing their team's struggle, partnered with UN Women to introduce something revolutionary: training sessions on post-trauma care and regular self-care sessions for the frontline workers themselves.

Ngoc Bich conducting a confidential counseling session with a client at Peace House Shelter. Photo: Peace House Shelter

Through capacity-building programs, they have equipped caregivers with critical skills to handle trauma cases more effectively. The organization ensured both survivors and frontline workers received mental health support. "UN Women's support transformed how Peace House operates, Bich explains. "We now have structured training on self-care, which we had never prioritized before." These sessions became her lifeline. "I learned to pace myself, practice meditation, and build small habits that renewed my energy. Group discussions with colleagues reminded me that I wasn't alone."

Creating a Stronger Support System

The benefits extended beyond counselors. With increased resources, Peace House expanded services, ensuring more survivors received immediate assistance, psychological care, and legal aid. "When we are stronger, we can serve survivors better," Ngoc Bich says. "Our improved well-being translates into better care for those who need us most." She now sees self-care not as a luxury but as a responsibility.

Ngoc Bich and her colleagues attending a post-trauma care training session supported by UN Women. Photo: Peace House Shelter

The Beijing+30 agenda reminds us that gender-based violence remains critical, and supporting frontline workers is integral to the solution. By investing in counselors' resilience, we strengthen the overall response to gender-based violence and ensure sustainable, high-quality care for survivors.