Go advocates better mental health support

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, raised his concern about the mental health of overseas Filipino workers considering the possibility of significant stressors they could face in their pursuit of better opportunities abroad while overcoming various crises happening globally.

According to a study led by Dr. Veronica Ramirez of the University of Asia and the Pacific, stressors such as regular communication concerning family issues, financial obligations, homesickness, demanding workloads, and the challenges associated with adapting to a foreign culture, notably the language barrier, are causing considerable distress among OFWs.

The research on "Patterns of Detection and Treatment of Mental Health Problems Among OFWs: Implications to Psychosocial Support Services," which was carried out from June 2021 to March 2022, involved nearly 1,000 participants, 825 of whom are OFWs.

They found out that the participants have encountered episodes of panic attacks, schizophrenia, paranoia, anxiety, and extreme fear.

For this reason, Go has urged the relevant agencies to integrate the research findings into the creation or enhancement of specialized services and programs addressing the issue.

Go stressed the importance of recognizing and addressing these stressors to ensure the well-being of OFWs who play a crucial role in supporting their families and contributing to the country's economy.

Go has been a consistent champion of mental health initiatives. In a recent Committee on Finance hearing, he underscored the importance of securing adequate funding and executing mental health programs effectively.

He conveyed his support for the Department of Health's 2024-2028 Philippine Council for Mental Health Strategic Framework, an all-encompassing strategy designed to tackle mental health concerns in the Philippines.

Backed by the World Health Organization's Special Initiative for Mental Health, the framework gives importance to improving patient guidance and referral systems, creating an internal oversight board dedicated to mental health concerns, and educating media organizations on responsible reporting regarding mental health.