Supply Healthcare to Floating Villages in Cambodia

The Need for Art Therapy in Chronic Depression and Anxiety

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The history of Cambodia has generated an entire generation suffering from PTSD, and in our experience, many of the symptoms are passed down through generations. Unfocused anger, free-floating anxiety, and depression are all too common in Cambodia. Additionally, the isolation, poverty, food insecurity, and remoteness faced by our villagers make addressing these issues particularly challenging. Domestic violence is pervasive and fueled by the ready availability and relative cheapness of alcohol. Intervening in these matters is culturally complex, and it is only recently that law enforcement has started to address this problem.

For children, the impacts of poverty, instability, and family violence can disrupt healthy development, leading to emotional and behavioral issues. They may not possess the vocabulary or understanding to articulate their feelings, which can lead to further complications.

Art Therapy: An Effective Tool

Art therapy offers a unique approach to mental health treatment by combining creative expression with therapeutic techniques. The non-verbal nature of art makes it especially beneficial for those who find it difficult to articulate their emotions verbally, such as children or individuals bound by cultural and social constraints.

Art therapy allows participants to use various artistic mediums—painting, drawing, sculpting, or even collage—to express thoughts and feelings related to their emotions. Through the process of creation, individuals can gain insight into their feelings, work through challenges, and develop coping strategies. For example, a child might use colors to express their feelings about violence at home or depict scenes that represent their fears and hopes. This process not only assists in emotional release but also fosters a sense of self-esteem.

Building Community and Connection

In the remote areas where TLC operates, community resources and support networks are absent. Art therapy helps to build social connections by offering group sessions where individuals can share their experiences through their artwork. Such community-oriented therapy fosters a sense of belonging and solidarity among participants who share similar struggles, breaking down the barriers of isolation and loneliness that often accompany poverty and trauma.

Integrating Art Therapy into Support Programs

TLC’s art therapy program began only recently following the training of TLC’s mental health staff—one doctor and one midwife—in April 2024. The art therapist was from Sweden. Since that first day, our staff has witnessed the positive results of this activity. Despite being extremely busy, with more than 240 patient contact hours in 2024, the staff has sought to incorporate art therapy into their approach to mental health.

Cambodia is in the midst of a drought, and it is having a devastating effect on the socio-economic and health of the People of the Lake. TLC's staff is working under very harsh conditions with daytime temperatures exceding 40C (over 100F) sometimes as high as 44C (112F) and nighttime temperatures only droping down to 30C (86F). The last rain to fall was on 17 October, 2023!  Each day seems hotter than the last.  Multiple times on each weekly mission staff members must step out of the boats to push through the now very shallow areas on the Tonle Sap Lake.

But the work continues.

On the medical/clinical side of things:

Clinical Cases: 5,482

Health Education: 3,152

Oral Health Education: 3,107

Dental Cases: 654

Antenatal Care: 87

Birth Spacing: 79

Birth Spacing Education: 2,427

Eye Care: 518

Vaccinations: 388

Mental Health Visits: 143

Domestic Violence Counselling: 79

Referrals: 14

 TOTAL CLINICAL SERVICES:  13,255

Outreach Services:

Home by Home Visits: 3,371

Teenage Health Education: 343

Mothers’ Clubs: 86 meetings with a total of191 participants

School Checks: 206 School Children

Children at Risk: 225 children under 3yo measured;

181 require follow-up

New Bio-Sand Filters Installed: 22

Bio-sand Filter Follow-up: 791 visits

New Gardens, both on land and floating: 14

TOTAL OUTREACH SERVICES: 5,111

With such extreme temperatures and drought conditions clean, potable water is critically important and TLC's Outreach Team is doing everything it can to ensure that every household is cared for.