Sporadic fighting across the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat over the past 15 years has taken its toll on the physical and psychological health of people living there, many of whom are hesitant to seek care. The conflict, which resurged during 2022 despite peace talks, has affected adults and children alike.

Our teams work with local organisations to improve healthcare in the region, especially for victims of ill-treatment who are excluded from existing services. We run a holistic programme with a particular focus on mental health support, which includes individual and group therapy, psychosocial education and stress management.

In addition to basic healthcare, we offer physiotherapy and pain management, as well as social support. The project is the only one in the area providing such services to victims of ill-treatment and their families.

In 2022, we extended our outreach programme, sending dedicated staff to provide health promotion in a wider geographical area.

Raising awareness of mental health issues remains one of our priorities. We work with communities to prevent violent incidents and build mechanisms to cope with them, should they occur. Our teams run psychoeducation sessions and psychological first-aid training in counselling centres, mosques, schools and other venues in areas that have experienced numerous violent events. We also share information and expertise on various aspects of mental health with local networks and groups to strengthen their capacity and improve referral pathways to our facilities.