Introducing Red Cover:

Supporting Suicide Victims and Survivors in the Red River Delta. Launched in February 2023, Red Cover is a personal endeavor focused on providing essential support to those affected by suicide in the Red River Delta region.

Our mission is rooted in understanding the practical challenges faced by survivors and the broader community.

Through hands-on investigation, we’ve delved into the sensitive process of recovering victims’ remains by meeting Mr. Dũng, a man who retrieves corpses from the Red River and help redeliver the victims’ bodies to their families. Thanks to an interview with Mr. Dũng, we’ve recognized the common threads contributing to these tragic events, such as high-risk behaviors like gambling and investment losses. Red Cover is committed to providing real-world assistance. 

Investigating the job of recovering victims' bodies

The work of Mr. Dũng is not an income-bringing profession but rather a voluntarily duty he has taken upon himself and which the surrounding community highly regard him for. His duty has spanned over an incredibly resilient 28 years.

Over that nearly three decade long period, however, there has been a seismic shift in the underlying causes for the River’s corpses. Back in 1995, the river claimed lives through heart-wrenching drownings and shipwrecks. However, from 2010 onwards, mental anguish, has become the fatal driving force. Mr. Dũng also stressed the distressing role of financial ruin, often sprung by gambling addictions and high-risk loaning/investing, having led people down dark depression cycles and isolation. We found out this information by scheduling an interview with Mr. Dũng at his home on the Red River’s shores, under the Nhat Tan Bridge. A long motorcycle ride took us to the river’s slippery shores. Mr. Dũng’s lack of technology meant a long time of intermission for us, and with no boats available for public use, I waved at the first sight of a passing ferryman. His slightly worn-down wooden ferry took us across the river. Bidding him figure farewell, we arrived at Dung’s house. 

 

His quarters were modestly by green-painted inox walls and roof. The interiors included a rustic set of furniture in dark brown, the place we sat at to conduct our interview. The gardens outside were almost contrastingly lively with couple gnarled peach trees, scruffy black pigs, and bright plastic wine-making containers.

Causes of suicide

Common suicide causes are often rooted in profound mental distress. In recent years, a notable trend of correlation has emerged. Many cases of suicide, especially among younger generations, have been linked to financial hardship. This includes high-risk gambling and investment losses, which can compound the psychological strain individuals experience. The allure of quick financial gains, combined with economic instability, can intensify the pressure on individuals, pushing them towards a breaking point. This shift emphasizes the need for comprehensive support systems that address both mental health and financial well-being, working together to prevent such tragic outcomes. A common causal chain further illustrates this issue: social media exposure to betting sites, followed by unchecked gambling and intoxication, often culminates in sobering depression that extinguishes many people’s will to live. This sequence underscores the urgency of targeted interventions and robust support structures to confront the complex challenges individuals face in the modern world.

Statistics

The explanation provided by the psychological expert

Interviewer: Gambling on sports, losses in stock investments, cryptocurrencies, real estate… these are probably just a few of life’s myriad issues. Modern society will continue to give rise to new complexities. So, how should individuals nurture their mental health, sir?

PhD. Nguyen Van Dung*: The pressures of life persist throughout one’s entire life. It is estimated that up to 50% of people will experience emotional disorders at least once in their lifetime.

A well-rounded individual is shaped by a good society, good physical health, and a relaxed state of mind.

From the perspective of a mental health specialist, I would advise everyone to live in the present. Strive for self-improvement but also take care of your health. Create a peaceful life and avoid placing excessive pressure on yourself. Additionally, ensure you have good sleep hygiene, getting 7 to 10 hours of sleep per day, and maintain a balanced diet. Recognize that our mental health is our most valuable asset and maintain a balanced life.

We’ve visited 30 families of suicide victims, offering tangible support of gifts and gestures of sympathy. We’ve also worked to connect seven survivors with mental health professionals, recognizing the crucial role of expert care in their healing journey. In a bid to remember those who may have been laid to rest without the presence of family, we organize monthly visits to their unmarked graves at Co Troi Shrine. Together, we’re working towards creating a more supportive and resilient environment for all.

About the monthly memorial ceremonies at Co Troi Shrine:

• Co Troi Shrine is the resting place for victims who couldn’t be reunited with their families. Its origins trace back to the 1980s, starting from the grave of a young girl. On a day of heavy rain and high waters of the Red River, people living along its banks discovered the body of an approximately 18-year-old girl floating on the river. Mr. Dung and his father decided to bury her in this cemetery. Since the girl had no known relatives, they named the shrine Co Troi, meaning “floating girl.” 
• After understanding the significance of the body retrieval work, even though I couldn’t physically accompany Mr. Dung in this perilous task, every month I still come to offer incense, pay respects to the ill-fated victims laid to rest here, hoping for their souls to find peace.

Suicide, no matter the reason, should not happen. Every life is precious. We have noticed that the majority of people who resort to this extreme method do so because they have to face issues like debt from investments, gambling problems, emotional conflicts, family conflicts, and more.

In my role as a person passionate about and knowledgeable in finance, I believe that if everyone is better equipped with financial knowledge, they can certainly reduce the suicide rate caused by debt. Due to a lack of financial control and investment knowledge, many people end up in debt due to gambling in the hope of getting rich quickly or incurring losses in non-professional stock investments. Therefore, I sincerely hope that people can learn more about finance, so that they can independently address their issues and avoid losing their rationality and seeking extreme solutions.