Policy Brief: Strengthening Social Cohesion through Psychosocial Interventions in Conflict-Affected Myanmar

Mental disorders are the leading cause of health issues globally, but up to 90 percent of people with common and severe disorders in low-income countries receive no treatment. In Myanmar, the compounded impacts of civil war, displacement, and chronic underdevelopment have left communities with critical unmet mental health needs. In areas where professional mental healthcare remains out of reach, community-based psychosocial interventions offer a promising alternative.

This randomised study examined whether structured psychosocial support and community group activities could improve mental health and strengthen social cohesion in conflict-affected communities.

Neither intervention had a significant impact on primary indicators of mental health. However, the group skills intervention improved social cohesion and shifted expectations surrounding local governance and responsibility.

Key recommendations include:

1. Integrating psychosocial skills content into programmes aimed at strengthening social cohesion, particularly in conflict-affected and post-conflict settings.
2. Developing and investing in alternative mental health measurement tools that better capture resilience and well-being in contexts where stigma may suppress self-reporting.
3. Supporting additional research to validate these results across diverse populations, and to refine delivery models that are effective and culturally appropriate.

Find out more in the results brief.