AMI Mental Health Activities in Thaïland

AMI Mental Health Activities in Thaïland

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AMI started in 2004 to implement psychosocial activities for refugees in Thailand on the Thai/Myanmar border. After an evaluation done to assess the mental health of the population in the different camps in which AMI was involved, it came out that more than 40% of this population was suffering from psychosocial disorders as anxiety or depression.

There are many reasons that can explain this suffer: the situation in their home country that forced them to leave can be source of traumatism; the isolation and impossibility to move out of the camp, sometime since many years, can increase depression; the resettlement process (going to a third country) can also be very difficult to handle, for the ones who applied, for who it might raise stress, grief to quit loved ones, family separation problems, as for the ones who stay in the camp and get separated from relatives or friends.

Step by step the mental health program was set up in order to offer a psychosocial support to these persons.

Teams of psycho care givers have been recruited in the 3 camps and trained to handle psychosocial activities and to support the medical team to manage the patients suffering with mental disorders.


Listening and drawing group with children


The program that has been implemented aims at responding the needs with the most appropriate activities. It is based on an Eastern approach, aiming to reduce the suffering of the patient in a whole instead of treating specific mental diseases. The treatment includes group discussion and experience sharing, relaxation, yoga and seems to be more efficient. The major targeted people are those suffering from moderate disorders, resulting from adjustment difficulties (anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia…).

A total of 1259 consultations were delivered and 27 group sessions were performed during the last 5 months period.

The program is well settled and acknowledged now in the camps. It is still improving, and psycho care givers keep increasing their skills and knowledge in order to always better adjust the care provided to the person, whether it is a mental health patient or a staff member who needs support to avoid burn out.

Cécilie Alessandri,
Health Project Officer

More information about the World mental health week
sent 20 October 2008