Exile, mental health and the Saite channelCEFR A2
18 Nov 2025
Adapted from Exile Hub, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Wietse Jongsma, Unsplash
The February 2021 coup in Myanmar led many people to leave the country. Exile Hub, a partner of Global Voices in Southeast Asia, works to support journalists and human rights defenders. Some exiles turned to mental health work as a quiet form of resistance.
Lucas grew up in Mandalay and studied microbiology at Yadanabon University. He ran his family rubber business and once trained in tennis, hoping for the Olympics. After the coup the economy collapsed, his mother died and his father planned to remarry, so he left Myanmar in 2022. He worked blue-collar jobs in a country where he did not speak the language, and he felt lonely.
With a friend trained in psychology, Lucas saw a lack of mental health support and started the Saite YouTube channel in October 2022. Saite gives practical coping ideas, supports young people and nurtures resilience. The channel now has nearly 9,000 subscribers and the first videos were made on his phone.
Difficult words
- psychologist — A person who studies the mind.
- awareness — Knowledge about something important.
- resources — Things that help you solve problems.
- support — Help or assistance for someone.
- strategies — Plans to achieve goals.
- healing — The process of becoming healthy again.
- resilience — Ability to recover from difficulties.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think mental health awareness is important?
- How can coping strategies help people?
- What challenges do you think young people face when they leave their country?
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