By Bunna Sorng, MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership, Cambodia

Sokunthea Pen, 58, is a widow and a mother of four. She lives with her youngest son, eldest daughter, and her daughter’s children in northwestern Cambodia’s O’Chrov district. Her two other daughters work in a neighboring country.

Sokunthea has been both a mother and a father to her children since her husband’s death two decades ago. “I’ve been experiencing stress for so long,” she says. “My mind is often filled with thoughts, and loneliness creeps in when my son and daughters leave for work. As I watch my grandchildren sleep, I’m kept awake by concerns for what lies ahead for them.”

In May, Sokunthea joined 149 others at a local pagoda—a place for worshipping the Buddha and a designated space for rituals—for a community event raising awareness about mental health and trauma. The gathering brought together mental health stakeholders—ranging from national health officials to grassroots advocates—and sparked meaningful discussions within the community about mental health, an issue that has received limited attention in the past and that has significant stigma attached to it in Cambodia.

The rise of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1976 led to the near annihilation of the nation’s healthcare infrastructure and the destruction of the country’s major mental health hospital. By 1979, the new government prioritized rebuilding the healthcare system. Yet, mental health training and services remained absent even though a significant number of citizens experienced mental health issues stemming from years of civil war and genocide committed against the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge.¹

Now, in the government’s Mental Health Strategic Plan 2023-2032, mental health care is integrated into the public health system through a minimum package of activities designated for health centers and a complementary package of activities for referral hospitals. MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership supports these government-led efforts by strengthening the capacity of stakeholders at community, health facility, and national levels to provide trauma-informed mental health care and psychosocial support in the provinces of Battambang and Banteay Meanchey, with plans to expand to more areas.

MOMENTUM supported the Ministry of Health’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA), along with other national and sub-national stakeholders, in developing capacity-strengthening curricula for frontline health providers and community leaders to enable them to provide peer support in their communities. MOMENTUM also supports DMHSA in data collection and use—a critical piece in strengthening mental health services.

The event attended by Sokunthea was a collaborative effort between MOMENTUM, DMHSA, provincial health departments, operating districts, health centers, community leaders, and local monks. Community engagement is an important step toward raising awareness about mental health and supporting community members to seek care, which is currently a challenge in Cambodia.

Sokunthea spoke at the event, stating that mental health challenges and trauma are prevalent issues that touch the lives of many, including her own family: “Despite having a health center just steps away from my doorstep, I’ve never sought advice there for mental health concerns, preferring to manage stress independently,” she said. “However, after I participated in the event today, I’m now prepared to consult with a healthcare professional at the center whenever I feel overwhelmed, ensuring I don’t have to face it by myself.”

Samban Rem is a midwife and the head of the health center in Sokunthea’s community. She oversees seven staff members offering a comprehensive range of health services—including general medical consultations, maternal care, family planning, and immunization—to about 16,800 residents across two communes. The provincial health department selected this health center as a focus of implementation for MOMENTUM.

“This is the first-ever event where we talked about mental health and trauma in our community. Through this experience, I gained more knowledge and confidence in conveying mental health knowledge to the villagers,” says Samban.

The center’s staff have participated in various training programs, but comprehensive mental health and community outreach training had been absent until now. In preparation for community engagement, the MOMENTUM team met with the health center team to outline the project’s objectives, share information on mental health and trauma, and discuss outreach strategies.

“Before, we did not offer mental health consultations. However, many individuals in their 50s and 60s who struggled with sleeplessness sought sleeping pills,” says Samban. Now, she provides consultations, emphasizing the drawbacks of relying solely on medications.

Samban recognizes the substantial benefits of participation in these kinds of activities for both health professionals and community members. Health officials acquire knowledge that enables them to educate and advise the community effectively and to provide a supportive environment for those hesitant to seek help within their families. Meanwhile, community members enhance their understanding of mental health and are empowered to share knowledge with others.

MOMENTUM is also identifying religious leaders to participate in community activities. These leaders will receive training materials to help them provide counseling and support to community members and to learn when to refer people to health facilities.

Samban conveys optimism about the project’s impact, anticipating that it will help alleviate stress, improve well-being, and mitigate familial tensions, thereby enhancing the quality of life for individuals.

“This project is crucial for the Cambodian people as it aims to address mental health challenges and enhance overall well-being,” says Samban. “By fostering good mental health, it will help reduce stress, minimize family conflicts, and significantly improve the quality of life for all of us.”