In Myanmar, the political and economic collapse of the country and the ever-expanding conflict have deeply affected people’s mental health and well-being. Yet it is estimated that there is less than one mental health worker per 100,000 people — and stigma around mental health care is prevalent.
Supporting others requires self-care
Venerable Thura* — a Buddhist monk from a village in Myanmar’s Sagaing region — sees how trauma, fear and anxiety affect his community. As a community leader, he cares for those around him, often providing assistance where formal structures are lacking. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he supported disease prevention and care efforts. More recently, he established a school in his temple, providing education to over 700 students whose schooling was interrupted as a result of the conflict.
Faith leaders like Venerable Thura hold an influential role in Myanmar: Their voices are heard, their actions are revered and their guidance is sought. Many have become agents of change, championing peace and inclusion. But working long hours and witnessing human suffering can be emotionally draining and many faith leaders report symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, chronic fatigue and stress-related headaches.
The Networks for Peace project, implemented by FHI 360 and funded by USAID, supports the well-being of faith leaders who are promoting peaceful and safer societies in South and Southeast Asia. In Myanmar, the program works with local non-profit organizations* to deepen religious leaders’ understanding of gender equality, social inclusion, trauma resilience and well-being, enabling them to create self-care and collective care plans during times of conflict. It also facilitates local initiatives on community healing which reinforce messages about anti-discrimination, inclusion, empathy, deep listening and nonviolent communication.
Putting well-being at the center
The program offers faith leaders a path to healing and resilience by cultivating self-awareness, strengthening support networks and developing coping strategies. Participants learn that to help their communities build collective strength, rebuild trust and foster purpose amid chaos, they must prioritize their own well-being.
“Self-love and collective well-being can counter the burnout [activists often experience],” says Ginger Norwood, co-founder of FHI 360’s partner International Women’s Partnership for Peace and Justice (IWP). “Burnout doesn’t have to be inevitable … we can still be committed activists for peace and justice — with the foundation of well-being.”
In partnership with IWP, the program has established a robust support system that provides peacebuilders with accessible tools to prevent burnout, alleviate compassion fatigue, and develop initiatives to enhance resilience and well-being.
“In conflict settings, where individuals face high levels of trauma and uncertainty and traditional mental health support is unavailable or too costly, mindfulness practices can help people become more aware of their thoughts and feelings without becoming overwhelmed,” says Krongkaew Panjamahaporn, a gender equality and social inclusion advisor with FHI 360. “This awareness allows individuals to identify the sources of their suffering and burnout, and better manage their energy and well-being.”
Through their participation in Networks for Peace activities, Venerable Thura and other leaders from various faiths have been exposed to well-being practices, such as virtual and in-person healing circle dialogues, exchanges and trainings. These practices — which include breathing and energy tapping exercises and which can be done for free — use the body as an anchor for the mind.
“Burnout doesn’t have to be inevitable … we can still be committed activists for peace and justice — with the foundation of well-being.”
Ginger Norwood
Ensuring long-term healing, resilience and inclusion
Participants have become advocates and facilitators for well-being and healing, using their community knowledge and resources to spread these practices. They have initiated new programs — such as community healing workshops and peer support systems — within their villages.
Venerable Thura, after gaining new skills from training organized by the program, conducted a community healing workshop for 11th and 12th grade children. In other conflict-affected towns, participants created well-being and trauma-healing initiatives through art therapy, while religious leaders in urban areas such as Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw developed trauma healing programs for their communities. Networks for Peace also supported local partners to develop well-being resources — in audio, video and text — offering culturally relevant support for community leaders and those affected by trauma.
Ouyporn Khuankaew, co-founder and lead trainer of IWP, says that activists must not be driven by anger and frustration about the injustice they see. “What we need is well-being in all levels of our life,” she says. “Because if we are integrating well-being into our life, into our culture, into our movement — that [can] only sustain us.”
Ultimately, she says, “we want to create a society where love, respect, caring, compassion are practiced” — and that starts from within.
*The names of some organizations have been withheld, and aliases are used to protect the identities of some individuals involved.
FHI 360 implements the Networks for Peace project under the Strengthening Civil Society Globally (SCS Global) Leader with Associates Award from USAID. The project’s activities include grants for selected peacebuilding activities, practitioner exchanges, exposure trips, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and participative research.
