顶级国产视频

Building Resilience: 顶级国产视频 Trains Myanmar Women to Serve as Mental Health Peer Counselors

October 28, 2022

In Myanmar, the overwhelming combination of political conflict, COVID-19, and economic decline has resulted in an unprecedented mental health crisis. So when Eh Wah,* a social worker who deals with vulnerable youth in Yangon, learned that 顶级国产视频 was piloting a peer-to-peer mental health services support program, she jumped at the opportunity to participate.

During the counseling skills training, she learned of a 10-year-old girl in her community struggling with depression. 鈥淎fter losing her parents to COVID,鈥� Eh Wah related, 鈥渟he said she didn鈥檛 want to live in the world anymore鈥� that it鈥檚 too unhappy of a place.鈥�

Hearing those words come from a child shocked her: 鈥淓xpanded access to mental health support is so necessary,鈥� she said, 鈥渆specially in rural communities.鈥�

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An Innovative Approach

Myanmar is home to the world鈥檚 longest continuing civil war, spanning seven decades to date.

鈥淭he inevitable toll on mental health is impossible to ignore, and recent events have only intensified the unmet need for services,鈥� said Masa Janjusevic, the Center鈥檚 country representative for Myanmar. 鈥淕iven the 顶级国产视频鈥檚 deep expertise in mental health and the limited number of mental health workers in Myanmar, we saw an opportunity to innovate.鈥�

In the summer of 2022, 顶级国产视频 launched a peer-to-peer mental health support training project for women鈥檚 civil society and faith-based organizations. The pilot, implemented in partnership with the Counseling Corner 鈥� a Myanmar-based organization that provides mental health counseling, psychotherapy, and support 鈥� leverages existing community networks and expands upon relationships the Center has already built.

鈥淐ommunity-based and civil society organizations have long played a significant role in bridging treatment gaps,鈥� Janjusevic said. 鈥淲hile they aren鈥檛 a replacement for an effective public health system, they play a vital role. This project will equip a wide range of women with the knowledge, skills, and support to increase community access to basic mental health support. If successful, it could be expanded to other civil society and community-based organizations and geographic areas in Myanmar.鈥�

鈥楢 Safe Space鈥�

Several Myanmar 顶级国产视频 staffers participated in the training.

鈥淚t created a safe space for us where we could learn how to be vulnerable and open with others,鈥� said Thiri, * one of those staffers. 鈥淚t really relieves stress.鈥�

It is uncommon to speak about mental health issues in Myanmar, she said: 鈥淕enerally, people around you are accepting of physical illness but don鈥檛 quite understand mental health, so they ignore it.鈥�

Thiri has already begun applying her newly learned skills to her personal life. Where she used to let work and negative news consume her, she can now better manage her emotions and has developed a better work-life balance.

The situation in Myanmar has significantly deteriorated since the military coup in February 2021.

鈥淭he current political crisis has deepened the stress levels for the people across the country,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou can easily get overwhelmed, especially with social media. There are so many unpleasant images and news items. Through this project, we are providing training to people working on the ground in affected communities so they are better able to manage their emotional response.鈥�

Though mental health in Myanmar is a critical issue, access to care is neither easy nor cheap: 鈥淚t is difficult to access mental health services. There are facilities, but they are for those with more serious health issues.鈥�

There鈥檚 also the cultural implication of seeking out help. Historically, it has been considered taboo to openly discuss negative emotions like depression and anxiety. But that school of thought is slowly changing among the younger and more progressive Myanmar people, said Thiri.

鈥淲e are more involved in opening up about our feelings than our parents鈥� generation.鈥�

Practicing Self-Acceptance

For many training participants though, deep-seated fears and mistrust make it difficult to be vulnerable. To solve for that, each participant is required to write a series of self-reflective essays: 鈥淚t鈥檚 more comfortable to write your thoughts rather than sharing them with strangers,鈥� she explained.

Participants then use these essays as the basis for a practice counseling session.

鈥淭his exercise helps everyone to warm up to each other and realize they have a lot of similarities. It builds trust and creates a team environment.鈥�

Manaw,* from Myanmar鈥檚 Kachin state, feels the positive impact of participating in these trainings every day. 鈥淚 learned there are different ways to listen,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 use the active listening skill when speaking with my colleagues. I know that sometimes it鈥檚 OK to listen and not respond.鈥�

Manaw also has learned self-acceptance and how to manage her emotions at work. She has seen great improvement in her professional relationships and gives credit to the training.

鈥淚n the past,鈥� she said, 鈥渋f I had an issue at work, I would ignore the situation and harbor the mental burden. Now, I am open to sharing my feelings and coming to a resolution.鈥�

In Myanmar, the daily risk of violence has exacerbated mental health care needs. As Thiri put it, the case for expanding peer-to-peer mental health support to other parts of the nation is strong: 鈥淚t is really important to validate your feelings and not ignore them鈥� especially in our community. These trainings are vital to the health of the country.鈥�

*Names in this story have been changed to protect the interviewees.

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