Homesickness is common among OFWs or Overseas Filipino Workers. It is normal to feel that way. OFWs live a life where they are far away from their family in order to make a better living in a country with better wages and opportunities. Homesickness can actually affect the mental health of Overseas Filipino Workers. In fact, WebMD says that workers, students, migrants, and military men and women, at least 50% of them said that they have felt homesick. If left unresolved, homesickness can lead to developing one of the common mental health conditions, which is depression.
Think about your OFW family member. If you don’t have one, then you should think of an OFW that is your neighbor or your distant relative. They may have picturesque photos posted online when they’re not hunched off of their backs while working, but they have a hidden story to tell. Behind all the glamor is the tendency to be homesick and coping with their mental health. In this blog, we will talk about the struggles of homesick OFWs and how to battle them.
OFWs and Homesickness
Homesickness can be defined as feeling lonely, distressed, and anxious because of being far away from home. People who suffer from homesickness tend to feel outcast in their host country, discriminated against and even indifferent to the cultures and tradition of their host country. It is very common among long-term deployed Overseas Filipino Workers.
OFWs are tough folk. They have gone through a lot to provide for their family while maintaining their living abroad. Even with a lot of skills to offer, they still manage to keep themselves grounded and remain generous to their family, providing for their needs. They also selfishly provide for the family’s wants. OFWs make their family at home happy but they’re missing them as well.
You know what they say, “There is no place like home”. Indeed, long-time deployed OFWs can say that they like it when they come home to their beloved country, the Philippines. It’s all fun and games when an OFW lands his or her dream job overseas, but once they get the hang of what life is like living overseas with no physical, familial support system, they can get discouraged.
Even non-Filipino workers living overseas would testify that sometimes, they feel that they do not belong to their host country. The same way is with Overseas Filipino Workers, sometimes even after all the adjustments, nothing beats being at home where they feel loved, accepted, and truly belong because.
So How to We Solve It?
Does homesickness go away immediately after OFWs recognize it? Of course not! Overseas Filipino Workers may tend to shrug the feeling of homesickness and keep working, and working, and..working.
This takes a toll on their mental health. If they have identified in themselves that they have homesickness, some of them would take action to take good care of their mental health. However, mental health care overseas is expensive. Not all OFWs can afford long-term therapy, much even a consultation.
To give you a background, in the UK, an hour of mental health assessment or consultation costs you £360 or roughly, almost ₱ 25,000. That is almost two weeks’ wage for some OFWs. In some other countries, it could cost more than $100 per session (1 hour). Let’s face it, therapy overseas would really dry their pockets.
Mental Health Tips for Homesick OFWs
Even so, OFWs can resort into their own self-care methods. Sharing some of the tips to battle homesickness:
Travel
OFWs have the perk to travel from state to state; if they’re in the US or country to country; if they are in the UK! Feeling homesick can be helped with the act of travelling from places where OFWs can possibly meet co-Filipinos who are going to give them that warm ‘kababayan’ hug and might even gift them some ‘pasalubong’. Other than that, OFWs can enjoy looking at many attractions and tourist destinations while travelling.
Meet Co-Filipinos
If an OFW is the only Filipino in town, try to visit the next town and look for one or two. The company of Filipinos can make them feel belong or other words, ‘vibe’ with them. Filipinos who stick together abroad are to be called family. They can catch up with them through social media and regularly gather together.
Treat Yourself with Filipino Products
Whenever OFWs feel homesick, they should have a taste or look at Filipino products so they can have a bit of home with them wherever they go. OFWs can go to their nearest Filipino store and purchase some favorite Filipino items. They can even indulge in their nearest Filipino restaurant and eat along with other Filipinos and foreigners.
Get E-Therapy
So how do we REALLY solve homesickness? In our previous blog, we talked about OFW mental health legislation. According to DOLE 208-20, Overseas Filipino Workers have the right to access mental health care even if they are far away. E-therapy from licensed and accredited Filipino psychologists is far cheaper than the ones abroad. E-therapy or online counselling is not only for those who are diagnosed with mental health conditions but also for people who want to be better versions of themselves.
How To Book An Appointment: M Psych: Your Mental Health Partner
When you’ve made up your mind about trying out E-therapy or online counselling, we give you a huge welcome. Here in M Psych: Your Mental Health Partner, we offer E-therapy or online counselling. You can book with us in less than 10 minutes. Follow the steps below:
- On the website, click the “Book a Counselling Session” – you will be redirected to a page where you can see a list of psychologists.
- Select your psychologist – hover around the list and choose one psychologist that you feel could help you be better. Select a schedule for you to meet the psychologist.
- Fill out your information – you have to type down your name and other personal details so that we would be able to know a bit about yourself.
- Pay the upfront fee – a reasonable price is ready for you. You can pay via Gcash and other partner payment platforms.
For booking online counselling, check here.