Training of Trainers: Care and Support for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Patients

In August 2007 PIN funded a one-year project which focused on ex-political prisoners and their families who were affected by a mental trauma (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD). The program was organized and conducted by the Dr. Tin Myo Win and his organization, Moon Shade Karuna Association (MSKA). Dr. Tin Myo Win was the Head of the Surgical Department at the Free Muslim Hospital in Yangon. He looked after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Laureate, as her personal physician during her house arrest. In 2016 Dr. Tin Myo Win became the Chairman of the Myanmar Peace Commission.

Back in 2008, Moon Shade Karuna Association was a group of 45 highly motivated and socially active girls and young women volunteers between 18 and 30 years. 25 MSKA volunteers and 50 young volunteer facilitators from different townships in Yangon Division received training under the PTSD-project. After completing the training, they were able to identify and counsel PTSD-patients and to refer patients to professional help if needed. The emphasis of the PTSD-project was on assisting ex-political prisoners and their family members who suffered traumatic stress. The MSKA members and volunteer facilitators were trained in several one-week workshops which were run by active and retired psychiatrists and psychologists from Yangon hospitals and universities.

The program was very successful: All participants – MSKA and facilitators – were volunteers and highly motivated young people; they were students, carpenters, health and social workers, municipal employees, lawyers, etc. And the project itself demonstrated the networking efforts of PIN’s work: The project was led by a Buddhist doctor who worked at the Muslim Hospital and the workshops were held at the Convent of the Catholic Good Shepherd Sisters.