The Kyay Lat Myay civil society organisation (CSO) held a mental healthcare training course for 20 internally displaced people (IDPs) living in IDP camps in the northern part of Demoso Township in Karenni state, on 25 April.
A one-day training program for the male and female trainees was held on 25 April.
The course taught the IDP volunteers how to effectively treat trauma and activities to relieve trauma. Children also took part in the event. There were sports events, singing and dancing and drawing activities for children who attended the event. They were also given a nutritious meal.
“We organized the awareness program for adults, and the children received remedial therapy”, said Ma Mu Sell, the Director of the Kyay Lat Myay CSO.
Because of the war IDPs are showing signs of trauma, according to the Kyay Lat Myay CSO.
U Zaw Min Htike, the chairman of Kyay Lat Myay, said: “People are going through a lot of trauma because of the conflict, the sounds of heavy weapons and bombs, and [the stress of] having to budget for food and necessities. The children are also unhappy, parents can’t afford to buy them snacks. When the country was at peace children used to play in groups, but now we have discovered that children are feeling small and lonely.”
Previously, in 2021, The Kyay Lat Myay CSO organised mental healthcare training courses in some Magway Township villages. They also held the courses in villages and IDP camps in Karenni State in 2022 and 2023.
Previously there were over 300,000 people living in Karenni State, but around two-thirds of the population have had to flee their homes to avoid violence and military airstrikes.
