Singapore – Migrant workers and migrant domestic workers Avoids official searches in Singapore Mental health support As they fear losing their jobs, according to a recent study.
Some respondents were also unaware of mental health services or believed such services would be too expensive, said the study by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and the National University of Singapore’s Sao Swee Hock School of Public Health.
regarding to Six in 10 migrant workers and almost half of migrant domestic workers turn to informal sources of support – such as family and friends – for help with emotional problems.
The findings, published Jan. 30 in the Academic Journal of Public Health, were based on surveys of 1,465 migrant workers and 1,462 migrant domestic workers between 2022 and 2023.
The researchers, with the help of the Ministry of Manpower, recruited participants from places such as dormitories and recreation centers.which commissioned and funded the research. Insights were also gained from 14 focus group discussions with participants.
The sample group included Indian, Chinese and Bangladeshi workers, and Filipino, Indonesian and Myanmar Domestic workers
Using the same dataset, a second study examined symptoms of depression and anxiety among employees Using self-reported questionnaires. The findings were published on February 11 in the Annals, the official journal of the Singapore Academy of Medicine.
The participants were Ask the question If they have experienced symptoms of depression like that such as feelings of failure, or anxiety symptoms, such as an inability to stop worrying, In the last two weeks. They were also asked to what extent these problems have affected them their daily life.
study find that eight There were 1,000 migrant workers per 1,000 Moderate to severe symptoms Depression, compared to nearly 41 per 1,000 migrant domestic workers.
Moderate to severe symptoms Anxiety was found in 13 per 1,000 migrant workers and about 42 per 1,000 migrant domestic workers.
Dr. Maithili Subramaniam, the study’s principal investigator and Vice President of the IMH Medical Research Boardtold The Straits Times that workers with symptoms may be at high risk of mental health conditions, but a clinical diagnosis would require a thorough assessment by a trained healthcare professional.
Migrant workers without days off are more likely to have symptoms of depression, while migrant domestic workers who work long hours each day are more likely to have symptoms of both conditions.
The study also found that migrant workers with higher levels of education were more likely to have symptoms of depression and anxiety, likely because they were unemployed in their jobs.
Marks two papers of the The most comprehensive study to date Regarding the mental health of migrant workers and migrant domestic workers in Singapore, Dr Maithili said in an interview with ST on March 10.
“I would position (the study) as baseline surveillance data that gives us important information about the well-being of these workers and their help-seeking patterns,” said Dr. Mithili, who is also an associate professor at the Soe Swee Hock School of Public Health.
Research has found that many workers seek help Emotional problems such as constant stress and loneliness Primarily from informal sources such as family and friends rather than formal support services.
A major obstacle was the fear of losing their jobs. One of the focus group participants “You don’t know if (your) employer will fire you when you tell them about your problem,” the study said.
Some workers were unsure whether mental health care was covered by insurance, with researchers noting that they often “see health care costs as a trade-off against financial survival”.
Mental health services such as assessment and counseling Covered under primary care planmeant for migrant workers living in dormitories or working in the construction, maritime and processing sectors.
Employers pay between $108 and $138 a year to cover medical care for acute and chronic conditions for these workers under the plan, which becomes mandatory from April 2022.
“Misconceptions about health care coverage for mental health issues suggest a critical need for more transparent communication,” the researchers said.
of the The Primary Care Plan does not cover migrant domestic workers.
Dr Mithili said some employers may not want to spend time talking about mental health. Leave it to the authorities and aid organizations to solve the problem with the workers.
The prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in the second study was lower than in the previous study.
The researchers said the study was conducted after the Covid-19 pandemic, when fears related to pandemic regulations eased and programs were introduced to improve worker well-being.
There was one such innovation Project Dawn, a task force Created to build a mental health support ecosystem in 2020 migrant workers. It includes representatives from MOM, IMH, many organizations and government psychologists.
just arrived Migrant workers and first-time migrant domestic workers participate in the mandatory residency program, and 24-hour helplines are available for those in distress.
Senior supportsuch as the “Care Sisters” trained in 2022 under a program launched by MOM and the Domestic Workers Association, support fellow migrant domestic workers in their mental well-being.
A group of researchers, who studied migrant workers‘ Mental health during Covid-19 lockdown measureswrote a commentary on the second article, where they noted psychological resilience in the migrant worker population.
One of the authors of the commentary, Dr Jean Liu, associate professor of psychology, health and social sciences at the Singapore Institute of Technology, said such flexibility was influenced by factors such as regular working hours, job security and social support.
Although many adapt to stressors, migrant workers with pre-existing risk factors may develop mental health conditions, highlighting the need for increased screening and support, Dr. Liu said.
Mr. Ethan Guo, executive director of the non-profit organization also said the number of migrant workers, the main source migrant workers Mental health struggles are financial stress.
They encountered workers who were “on the verge of breaking down” because of unpaid wages, and seeking mental health help would not address their underlying problems, he added.
He said one way to reduce their stress is to provide job mobility – giving them enough time and flexibility to move jobs without having to worry about paying exorbitant recruitment fees.
Dr. Stephanie Chow, executive director of the Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics, a migrant rights group, said psychological distress among migrant workers is often underreported because they do not seek help for mental health concerns as opposed to employment issues.
She said addressing structural barriers such as fear about job security and lack of awareness of available services is essential to encourage workers to seek support.
Dr Chowk also emphasized the importance of ensuring that workers have adequate rest, reasonable working hours and opportunities for social interaction.
“Preventing conditions that lead to chronic stress and providing help after problems develop are critical,” she added.
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