Sakit Hati: A state of chronic mental distress related to resentment and anger amongst West Papuan refugees exposed to persecution

► The study is the first to describe idioms of distress amongst refugees from West Papua. ► The condition of Sakit Hati emerged as a state of resentment and anger related to experiences of injustice. ► Sakit Hati has evolved from its traditional usage to encompass a communal pattern of response to political persecution. ► Sakit Hati had the potential to cause suffering and disability, including aggression and suicidality. ► Anger requires better recognition as an affective state in psychiatry, with injustice being an important trigger.