DMW, DSWD team up in HK to bring mental health aid to OFWs

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are often hailed as modern-day heroes or Bagong Bayani. But even heroes need help.

With this in mind, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) joined the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) OFW Serbisyo Caravan on Sunday, 8 June, at Chatel Road, Hong Kong. The event aimed to bring various government services directly to OFWs, especially those in need of psycho-social support.

Hong Kong is home to over 200,000 OFWs, according to the latest DMW data.

The OFW Serbisyo Caravan is an initiative of the DMW, bringing together programs from national agencies to support the Bagong Bayani ng Mundo. The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure no sector is left behind in building a Bagong Pilipinas.

“Binibigyang pugay natin ang sakripisyo ng mga kababayan nating OFWs upang itaguyod ang kanilang pamilya, at makapag-contribute sa development ng ating bansa. Hindi naman lingid sa atin ang mga balita ukol sa mga kinakaharap na pagsubok ng ating mga bagong bayani,” said DSWD Undersecretary Monina Josefina Romualdez, addressing OFWs in Hong Kong.

Romualdez announced that an information desk manned by social workers will help explain the DSWD's available programs for OFWs and their families. She also highlighted the DSWD’s mental health initiative WiSupport — a psychosocial support program aimed at addressing the emotional needs of distressed Filipinos abroad.

“WiSupport is a psychosocial support program of the DSWD designed to address the mental health and psychosocial needs of our kababayans. From the very start, this program was pursued to provide access to platforms where they can express mental health concerns and seek support,” Romualdez said.

Resident DSWD psychologist Estrellita Turingan also provided on-site psychosocial interventions during the caravan.

“Isa sa mga challenges ng mga kababayan nating OFWs ay yung homesickness at pagiging mag-isa na maaaring magdulot ng mental at emotional challenges. Kasama natin ngayon dito ang ating psychologist upang makapagbigay ng direkta at agarang serbisyo,” Romualdez added.

The DMW recorded six suicide cases among OFWs in 2023, five in 2024, and one as of April 2025 in Hong Kong alone — highlighting the urgent need for mental health support.

The Hong Kong event marks the first leg of the OFW Serbisyo Caravan, with similar initiatives planned for countries with large Filipino communities, including Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy, and the UK.

Romualdez was joined by Protective Services Bureau Director Edmon Monteverde and Sustainable Livelihood Program Director Miramel Laxa in bringing the DSWD's services closer to OFWs.