A study has revealed the prevalence of mental health issues among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as they face various stressors and barriers to seeking help.
In the first National Brain & Mental Health Research Symposium of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) forum on Thursday, April 11, Associate Professor of the University of Asia and the Pacific Dr. Veronica Ramirez presented her research on the mental health of OFWs, specifically for women entitled, "Safe ka ba Sis" Filipina Migrant Workers and their Mental Health.
Ramirez is involved in the technical consultation for the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Research Agenda on Health and Migration and has been researching OFWs since 2014.
The DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) funded research conducted by Ramirez found that over the years, women have played an important role in migrant work and are often the principal wage earners for their families.
It is estimated that 58 percent of the two million deployed OFWs in 2022 were female professionals, skilled, and low-skilled workers.
As the remittances from OFWs contribute significantly to the country's economy, with the figure reaching 33.5 billion US dollars in 2023, the mental well-being of these workers should not be overlooked, Ramirez said.
“As we deploy thousands of Filipino women for overseas work, do we even care to support them for their needed brain care?” she asked.
Her study involved surveying 884 OFWs at different stages of their employment, from pre-employment to return stages where 80 percent of which were women.
They were surveyed in the country's six regions where the OFW population is the biggest, as well as in ten countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Alarmingly, her research found that in 2022, depression and anxiety were prevalent among OFWs.
Meanwhile, in Macau, 25 percent exhibited post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and in Qatar, Indonesia, Nepal, and China.
It also noted that in the countries of OFW, there are people with diagnosable mental health conditions where in any given year, one out of four individuals in the United Kingdom (UK), and one out of six in Hong Kong suffer from diagnosable mental health illness.
It is revealed that there are different levels of mental disorders manifested among them, including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar, paranoia, panic attacks, fear, and distress.
These are triggered by stressors, such as the effects of the pandemic, isolation due to quarantine, economic stressors, and aggressors during employment, the study added.
However, she asserted that there is no distinction between OFWs and non-OFWs when it comes to the treatment of mental health problems.
For OFW returnees, a triage process is done to determine priority cases, followed by referral to the psychiatry section.
Meanwhile, for those employed, teleconsultation and consultation at local health facilities are available to highlight the importance of accessible mental health support for these workers.
Major stressors of their mental health
According to the study, hope is a major stressor as OFWs often hope for a better future for their families.
Yet, this hope can quickly turn into despair when they become overwhelmed by the numerous stressors they face.
"When they become hopeless, that is when they start to have mental health problems," Ramirez stressed.
Loans and financial obligations are another significant cause of many OFWs, leaving their families behind with the promise of sending remittances. This, the study pointed out leads to financial difficulties and the constant need to repay loans.
Added to these are financial constraints due to the high cost of service, precarious employment conditions, stigma with associated fear of negative judgment, sense of shame, and being a disgrace, fear of being labeled crazy, self-blame, and concern for loss of face, social stigma that puts the family's reputation at stake or places one's cultural group in bad light.
Moreover, it also pointed out the work environment, job content, organizational situation, workers' capacities, needs, and culture — the inability to adjust to language, food, non-practice of religion and personal conditions, and even love problems.
Coping mechanisms
"OFWs abide by the principle of being strong in life with a determination to lift their family out of poverty:" the professor said.
To cope with these stressors, the study revealed they have developed a range of coping mechanisms, such as maintaining a cheerful and strong attitude, seeking social support, relying on religious belief, and praying to leave everything to God.
As they do not want to burden other people, they resort to alternative medicines, self-medication, and social vulnerability.
'Refusing to be okay'
Seeking professional help is often seen as a last resort mainly because of financial constraints, language difficulties, and fear of stigma.
“In most cases, seeking professional help is sought only as the last resort because they are more inclined to getting help from family and friends or a lay network,” Ramirez said.
She added that aside from the inability to recognize it, admitting the condition to oneself is another problem.
Worrying about their immigration status is another reason for not seeking help.
Consequently, the research highlighted the need for accessible and affordable mental health support for OFWs.
She also pointed out the importance of addressing the stigma associated with mental health issues.
Ramirez added that through that emotional support from family, "definitely" will play a crucial role in helping them to cope with the challenges they face while working overseas.
"The presence of family and friends social support as the first level of comfort will definitely will them to overcome the challenges," she said.
The study also recommended a psychosocial evaluation that can measure the readiness of OFWs to work.
"They should include multicultural, socioeconomic, emotional, and psychological attributes," the study added.
Furthermore, increasing the promotion of mental health through psychosocial education by OWA, LGU workers, and other agencies to increase awareness among OFWs.