Being far from home, away from family, and working in a different country can take a serious toll on a person’s mental health. To help with this, Singapore is expanding its support for migrant workers. The goal is to make sure they have a system in place that includes employers and non-profit groups working together.
At a recent World Mental Health Day event for migrant workers, two new initiatives were announced. The event, which was attended by about 1,000 workers, also featured games and a health roadshow.
- HealthServe Roadshows: A group called HealthServe is launching 20 roadshows over the next two years. They hope to reach around 20,000 migrant workers at dorms and community centers. These events will offer more than just mental health support; they will also provide health screenings and information on things like nutrition and hygiene.
- Expanding Peer Support: The government is also growing its peer support leader program. This program trains migrant workers in “psychological first-aid skills.” This means they can help their friends and coworkers who might be struggling. So far, nearly 2,000 workers have been trained for this important role.
These efforts are part of Project Dawn, which was started during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a strong mental health support system for migrant workers. As part of this, HealthServe also runs a 24-hour crisis helpline staffed by people who speak the workers’ languages.
Overcoming Challenges
A study by the National University of Singapore and the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) found some reasons why workers don’t seek help. These include language barriers and fears about losing their jobs.
Minister of State for Manpower, Dinesh Vasu Dash, urged companies to “do their part to create supportive workplace cultures” and encourage their workers to “speak up” if they have issues.
One peer support leader, Thangam Karthick, a 34-year-old from India, shared his own experience. He was struggling after his father passed away and felt completely lost. He said, “My mind was a blank and I felt like I couldn’t do anything.” After a volunteer helped him through it, he was inspired to help others. Now, he wants more people to know that “there is always help available, and we will do our best to listen and support each other.”
