The Mental Health of Migrant Workers

The number of migrant workers in Bangladesh is growing, and along with it the complexity of their mental health. Just as one must go through a process of adjustment after leaving one's own country for abroad, one must also readjust to society and circumstances after returning home. This adjustment process is not the same for everyone; for various reasons, a returning migrant faces different mental difficulties. Mental state before migration: Even before going abroad, a person may become anxious for several reasons, such as: <ul><li>a new environment, alone and without family</li><li>language difficulties</li><li>financial difficulties</li><li>social barriers and others</li></ul> A recent study by the International Labour Organization found that 45% of Bangladeshi migrant workers go through this kind of mental stress even before going abroad, which increases their mental health risk after they return. Stress at work: Long working hours, low pay, and a hostile work environment raise a migrant's mental health risk. Research found that 42% of Bangladeshi migrant workers feel stress at work, which contributes to depression, anxiety, and other problems. Loneliness: Being far from family, relatives, and familiar faces greatly increases a migrant's mental health risk. One survey found that 48% of Bangladeshi migrant workers abroad feel helplessness, loneliness, and isolation. Trauma: In some cases the migration process becomes a negative experience, and severe trauma can create long-lasting complications. According to one survey, 26% of Bangladeshi migrant workers reported severe psychological trauma. Economic crisis: Returning home destitute, the burden of debt, and lack of work have a lasting negative effect on the mental health of returning workers. One survey found that 60% of returning Bangladeshi migrant workers are going through financial hardship. Social reintegration: On returning home, migrant workers also face difficulty readjusting to their own society. For various reasons, community and society show an unsupportive attitude toward returning migrants. Surveys found that 48% of affected returning workers face neglect and disregard in their own communities, which negatively affects their confidence. To address these challenges, the scope of mental health services needs to be expanded — providing care to returning workers and their family members and raising awareness of the importance of mental health.