Most OFW patients experienced panic attacks, schizophrenia, paranoia, anxiety, and extreme fear due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This occurred either in their country of work, while in hotel quarantine during their return to the Philippines, or during their reintegration in their respective communities. Mental health problems have different levels, ranging from temporary behavioral
disorders to severe mental disorders. Therefore, the treatment of mental health problems varies in degree of difficulty and distress. Recommended actions should not be “one size fits all.”
The project analyzed the patterns of detection and treatment of mental and behavioral disorders among OFWs and derive from the findings the implications to psychosocial support services.
Completed in July 2022, among the recommendations of the project is the development and publication of the Manual on Mental Health Interventions and Psychosocial Support for Filipino Migrant Workers in four languages (English, Tagalog, Bisaya, Ilokano) and in three versions: printed, PDF, and web-based. This will provide information on mental health interventions and psychosocial support for Filipino migrant workers. This will also support the RA 11036 Mental Health Act that will enhance the delivery of integrating mental health services, promoting and protecting the rights of persons utilizing psychiatric, neurologic, and psychosocial health services.
This article is featured in the Annual Report 2022 of the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.
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Learn more about CRC’s contributions in Migration and Overseas Filipino Work. In this field, CRC has brought about in-depth insight into the lives of the millions Filipino migrant workers whose contributions make a sizeable chunk of the Philippine economy – from their education and recruitment in the Philippines to their concerns and life strategies while working overseas, to their successful reintegration upon returning to the country.
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation, Inc., established the BPI Professorial Chair for Migration and Overseas Filipino Work (MOFW) on February 3, 2014. For years, the holder of the professorial chair has been undertaking intensive research on migration and development to guide policy makers, and publish teaching resource materials on the integration of migration into the K-12 Basic Education Curriculum subjects.
To find out more about CRC, send an email to [email protected], or message +639054280727, or follow us on LinkedIn. You can also find us on Facebook.
