Open AccessMental Health Problems in Nepalese Migrant Workers and their Families
Author(s) -
Pashupati Mahat,
Pashupati Mahat,
Karuna Kunwar,
Smriti Ghimire
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of bp koirala institute of health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2616-0390
pISSN - 2616-0323
DOI - 10.3126/jbpkihs.v4i1.36081
Subject(s) - psychosocial , anxiety , mental health , depression (economics) , suicidal ideation , psychiatry , medicine , mental illness , psychology , suicide prevention , poison control , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to describe the mental health problems of Nepalese migrant workers and their family members at home in Nepal. Families of migrant workers left behind in Nepal from nine project districts were interviewed to assess the psychosocial problems and offered appropriate psychosocial counselling. We assessed 747 individual members. Ninety-five returned migrant workers received psychosocial counselling, 67% of whom were male. The majority (56%) of the returnees suffered from anxiety, 23% had depression and 11% had serious mental illness. The left-behind family members amounted to 653, 93% of whom were female. The majority (56%) had anxiety, 26% had depression, 7% expressed suicidal ideation or had attempted suicide, 2% had severe mental illness. We concluded that majority of returning workers and left behind family members suffered from anxiety and depression.