COGNIZANT of the mental health issues besetting our OFWs, Rep. Marissa ‘Del Mar’ Magsino bats for the institutionalization of psychosocial counselling of these workers prior to their departure to prepare them for expected struggles during said deployment.
Magsino wasted no time to write DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa to put up specific programs to address the mental health needs of our OFWs while abroad.
Magsino also wants the family of the OFWs to undergo the same counselling.
Magsino visited Taiwan and Singapore last month in official capacity and connected with the Filipino community where she was informed that the pressing needs of the OFWs right now is their mental health.
“The OFWs themselves as well as their families should be given psychosocial counselling because both parties are vulnerable to mental stressor, due to isolation, family problems, economic pressures, and inability to adapt to their new environment. Even geopolitical pressures add to their anxiety,” she said.
Magsino said there is no need for additional budget needed to help the OFWs on their mental health needs pointing to the present program of the DOH called as “Lusog Isip Program” and adopt such into “Lusog Isip Program para sa OFWs at Kanilang Pamilya”.
Magsino promises to help the DOH in ensuring this program will be implemented for OFWs.
“This program would not only help our OFWs in Taiwan and Singapore, but the millions of our OFWs in all part of the world where they can be found working,” she said.
There are 2.33 million registered OFWs in 2023 where 58 percent were female workers and the rest represents male OFWs. The largest share of migrant workers is between the ages of 30 and 34, followed by those 45 years of age and older. However, this number does not include undocumented OFWS.
Saudi Arabia is the top destination of OFWs followed by United Arab Emirates and the rest works in Hong Kong, Kuwait, Singapore, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
