Digital mental health initiative helps migrants cope with stress

Brian Hall

A Macau-based scholar has recently co-launched the first online intervention program which was designed with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in a bid to provide access to psychotherapy intervention in the Filipino language.

Brian Hall, an assistant professor and director of the Global and Community Mental Health Research Group at the University of Macau, along with his team, has been working with Filipino migrant workers for over four years, stressing that there is a need for a program like this.

The scholar mentioned that there is a lack of counselors in the region, let alone those who can work with the Filipino community.
A study led by the scholar concluded that the majority of the Filipino migrant population would use the e-service when made available and accessible to them, noting that 90 percent claimed to have a smartphone.

Thus, the access to technology is not a concern. “We learned from our population-level study of over 1,350 Filipino domestic workers that the majority of the community would make use of a program like this, and that many people are suffering from stress, homesickness, and other challenges that can make life in Macau difficult times,” Hall told the Times. “This motivated us to collaborate with the World Health Organization to adapt a program specifically for Filipino overseas workers who are experiencing stressful circumstances,” he added.

Hall and his team collaborated with Filipino migrants in the city from a variety of occupational backgrounds to ensure that they could create an intervention that can address the needs of all the migrant workers.
“Now that we have an adapted intervention – we are rigorously testing it to ensure that what we offer OFWs [Overseas Filipino Workers] is of the highest quality and will provide the most considerable benefit to the community,” said Hall.
The project which also collaborated with Caritas Macau, the Philippine Consulate General, and the Philippines Overseas Labor Office, is a step-by-step program designed to help the migrants “overcome stress and challenges in a highly engaging storybook format.”

Delivered online, the program has five sessions, which can be completed in less than 30 minutes.

The entire program can be completed within five to eight weeks.

“There are characters who narrate a story and inform OFWs about techniques that can be used to overcome challenges and start feeling better – so they can be more successful for their families,” the scholar explained.
According to Hall, it is critical for these workers to have access to evidence-based mental health services, as being a migrant worker can be stressful and challenging, especially as they are separated from their families:

“Although Filipinos are incredibly resilient and have incredible strength, when these stresses become too great, having a free, anonymous, and scientifically supported intervention is helpful.”
The scholar also noted that the mental health law of the Philippines is an acknowledgement for the needs of Filipinos’ emotional wellbeing.

Although there are still many who feel embarrassed at the prospect of talking about their problems, Hall suggested that the online intervention program could be a platform to assist these migrants regarding an issue that is seldom talked about in the community.
“I think everyone is vulnerable to experiencing mental disorders. This is not unique to OFWs. We should really emphasize this point. This program is designed specially to address the issue of accessibility,” the scholar explained.

Since the program is delivered via a website and can be accessed using a smartphone, it can be scaled up to reach a significant part of the population.

“My hope is that this program will offer them some relief from the stresses and challenges of being a migrant worker. This is the ultimate goal,” Hall concluded.

A study Hall conducted last year showed that the number of Filipino and Indonesian domestic helpers in Macau who suffer from depression stands at 20 percent and 12 percent respectively.

It also suggested that these domestic workers are in a vulnerable position when it comes to suffering from mental illness due to their work-related exposures and current living conditions.

Migrants say program is ‘helpful’

Some Filipino migrants that spoke to the Times agree that the newly launched intervention program could be of particular help to those experiencing anxiety and depression.

According to some members of the community, there is still a number of their compatriots who do not feel comfortable speaking about their mental health conditions. These members of the community also cite the absence of depression tests and diagnoses.

“The online intervention is helpful, especially to our fellow compatriots who are afraid to voice out their personal problems. It will help them to overcome their loneliness and divert their attention to other meaningful activities,” said Hazhel Mamangon, president of the Filipino Community Alliance in Macau.

“It will help reduce the depression and with that kind of program it can educate them [as to] how to overcome loneliness,” he added. 

Meanwhile, other migrants believed that the eMental service could lessen the prevalence of mental disorders or any issues relating to mental health.

A migrant worker also suggested that activities regarding this matter could be organized and promoted amongst the community to help raise awareness.

“The online intervention would really be helpful to us, especially if they could also organize different activities that tackle this issue,” said a domestic worker, who declined to be identified.