OFW Party List Representative Marissa ‘Del Mar’ Magsino delivered a privilege speech in plenary on the mental health needs of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Magsino brought urgent attention to the mental health challenges faced by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), as highlighted by narrations of OFWs during her recent visit to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea.
Magsino shared that through these encounters, she has witnessed firsthand the struggles that OFWs endure and how these impact their mental well-being. She emphasized the prevalence of conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress among OFWs.
The party list solon also said the available literature on the psychosocial distresses of Filipino migrant workers, particularly the study conducted by Dr. Veronica Ramirez, as supported by the University of Asia and the Pacific, Department of Science and Technology, and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, indicate the existence of significant mental health problems among our OFWs, regardless of the host country.
The common challenges of labor migration are worsened by various stressors such as discrimination, poor working conditions, and separation from family. She also said seafarers are particularly vulnerable due to prolonged isolation at sea.
“Mabigat ang hamon sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa at ito’y nadaragdagan pa ng mga problema sa amo, sa kontrata, mga utang, at lungkot sa pagkakawalay sa pamilya. At kapag sila’y dumaranas na ng mental health issues, takot din sila na matanggal sa trabaho kaya umiiwas na magpatingin, kung mayroon man silang mapupuntahang counseling centers at may kakayahan magbayad. Dagdag pa rito ang kakulangan ng komprehensibong programa at mga tauhan ng ating mga embahada at konsulado na may sapat na kaalaman sa mental health upang mabigyan ng akmang tugon sa kanilang kalagayan,” Magsino said.
Magsino also emphasized that personnel of Philippine embassies and consulates need to be capacitated to help Filipinos abroad with mental health needs.
The lady solon also said the situation is compounded for undocumented workers who face increased mental stress due to their illegal status, fearing discovery and punishment by immigration officials in their host countries. This reality has led to a significant number of returning OFWs, particularly women, struggling with mental health issues.
“Ang mga tauhan sa ating mga embahada at konsulado ay dapat sanang handa at may tamang kaalaman upang makapagbigay ng wastong suporta sa mga manggagawang Pilipino na nakararanas ng mental health issues. Isa pa, kung tutuusin, kailangan din silang masama sa programang tutugon sa mental well-being dahil sila din ay dumaranas ng mabigat na stress sa kanilang trabaho sa ating foreign posts,” Magsino said.
In addressing these challenges, she outlined several recommendations, including: conducting awareness campaigns, enhancing the inter-agency referral system in the repatriation of distressed OFWs by utilizing and enhancing the Inter-Agency Medical Assistance Program (IMRAP), developing the competencies of mental health professionals in diplomatic and foreign posts engaged in the psychosocial and psychiatric services of OFWs, pursuing Bilateral Labor Agreements (BLAs) with host countries for easier access by OFWs of on-site mental health facilities and services, and broadening accessibility and availability of mental health services at the local and community levels in the Philippines.
Magsino also discussed the urgent need to destigmatize mental health issues and underscored the importance of providing comprehensive support and care for affected OFWs, extending even to their family members here in the Philippines.
“Our society has a long way to go in normalizing mental health in our culture. We lack the sensitivity and sensibility as a society toward mental health issues and it has little to do with education or stature. Kung hindi man kinukutya, andyan din ang pagbabale-wala. Sana’y ating seryohosohin ang pinagdadaanan ng mga taong dumaranas ng mental health disorders, lalo’t higit para sa ating mga OFWs na tinatamaan ng mga karamdamang ito na bunga ng mga hamon at suliraning kanilang kinakaharap sa kanilang paghahanap-buhay sa ibayong-dagat,“ said Magsino
