Since February 2021, Myanmar has witnessed a sharp deterioration in the overall mental well-being of its population, with conflict, displacement, and loss of livelihood being major contributors. Migrants face a plethora of mental health strains at various stages of the migration journey. This includes pre-migration experiences of conflict, violence, and poverty; transit-related adversities such as detention; and post-migration hurdles like restricted healthcare access, subpar living conditions, legal ambiguities, and feelings of social isolation. Moreover, as they navigate integration and settlement, they might grapple with unemployment, challenges of assimilation, discrimination, cultural identity crises, and the looming fear of deportation.

There are notable differences in mental health issues between documented and undocumented migrants over the past month. Overall, 39 percent of documented migrants said they had not experienced any issues in the past month. Undocumented migrants, particularly males, were more likely to report increased anxiety or persistent sadness as their precarious and vulnerable situation leaves them more likely open to exploitation, deportation, lower salaries. Likewise, undocumented migrants were more likely to have crossed over on their own without spouses or family members meaning they could be concerned about the situation back in Myanmar and how it is impacting their family.

Both documented and undocumented migrants groups value good support from friends or family, underlining the importance of strong community relations and social support systems. This likely reflects the challenging nature of migration and the need for collective support system in a foreign country. Feeling accepted in the Thai community and fair treatment at work ranked low, especially among undocumented migrants.