OFWs reel from mental health challenges

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are often celebrated as modern-day heroes, but beneath the surface, many grapple with mental health challenges that are rarely discussed.

Separated from their families and thrust into unfamiliar cultures, the emotional toll of working abroad can be immense.

Daniel (not his real name), a cruise ship worker for 13 years, has never found peace in his mind. While he supports his family — two younger siblings in school and his mother’s medical needs — he struggles with the weight of his responsibilities.

“It’s hard to complain. I don’t want to come off as selfish,” he said. But, as he approaches his late 30s, the absence of savings for himself weighs heavily. His sacrifices feel endless.

The breaking point came in early 2024 when his sibling’s unplanned pregnancy hit him hard.

“It felt like my world collapsed,” Daniel recalled. The pressure to provide intensified, and for a moment, he found himself questioning his purpose.

“I just wanted to jump off the ship,” he admitted. His family’s struggles, compounded by his own, led to deep feelings of isolation and despair.

Sadly, Daniel’s story is not unique. A 2017 study by Manuel S. Enverga University found that most Filipino seafarers lack financial literacy, with many struggling to budget, save, or invest their earnings.

This financial strain has had deadly consequences: suicide cases among seafarers spiked from one in 2018 to nine in 2022, according to the National Maritime Polytechnic.

Domestic workers also face similar struggles.

Liza, a domestic worker in Riyadh, felt constant frustration and helplessness. When she discovered that her child had used her motorcycle without a license, leading to an impoundment, the cost of resolving the issue came from her hard-earned salary.

“It’s frustrating because it feels like they don’t understand how hard I work,” Liza shared to DAILY TRIBUNE.