Understanding the mental health impact of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their support networks in southeastern Myanmar post-military coup: a qualitative study

Armed conflicts and military offensives after the 2021 coup in Myanmar have resulted in the internal displacement of almost 3.5 million people as of 2024. The internally displaced persons (IDPs) experience higher levels of psychological distress due to ongoing fears of military attacks, forced evictions, and financial hardships. As they cope with the unpredictability of their circumstances, many IDPs report experiencing persistent trauma symptoms, including nightmares, hypervigilance, and social withdrawal. This study aims to investigate the local conditions on the ground regarding the impact of displacement on the mental health of internally displaced people (IDPs) as well as the people and organizations who assist them in post-coup Myanmar. This qualitative study used a mix of purposive and snowball sampling approaches, conducting in-depth online and in-person interviews with 13 IDPs and 10 individuals from the IDP support network. Thematic analysis revealed that IDPs along with their support network described increased anxiety, fear, and even depression, especially concerning the prospect of airstrikes and violence. The absence of long-term mental health care added to the weight of the concern. While there are some formalized mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services, they are currently limited in scope and accessibility. In contrast, IDPs resort mostly to informal coping mechanisms such as peer and family support, and a sense of positive wish for winning the revolution and the acceptance stage of the reality along with religious support. Furthermore, the grassroots recommendations also include educational opportunities for children's mental health and early warning systems for airstrikes emerged as practical coping strategies. Despite limitations in generalizability and translation bias, the study proposes a practical approach by aligning the IASC's MHPSS intervention pyramid with the stages of grief in a horizontal framework, offering more context-sensitive and effective mental health support for displaced populations and its support network.