Study Urges DFA, DMW to Expand OFW Telepsychiatry

Researchers from the Davao Medical School Foundation are urging the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Migrant Workers to lead efforts in developing diplomatic frameworks for implementing telepsychiatry services for overseas Filipino workers.

The recommendations stem from a 2021 study titled Acceptability of Telepsychiatry among Overseas Filipino Workers in Kuwait, conducted by the DMSF team with support from the Department of Science and Technology.

The study explored the feasibility of telepsychiatry services for OFWs and found that 40 percent of 55 participants reported experiencing mental health issues, with acute stress disorder and major depressive disorder as the most common conditions.

Participants showed high acceptance of telepsychiatry, highlighting its potential as an accessible form of mental health care.

Led by Dr. Ma. Angelica Plata, the DMSF research team developed policy recommendations to establish sustainable access to mental health services through telepsychiatry.

Central to these recommendations is the creation of diplomatic frameworks to facilitate implementation and cross-border cooperation.

The DFA is being called on to initiate embassy-based telepsychiatry support units, establish agreements with host countries, and address data privacy concerns across borders.

The DMW is encouraged to integrate telepsychiatry into bilateral labor agreements and enhance pre-deployment orientation programs by including mental health modules and screening.

Dr. Plata’s team produced seven policy briefs outlining stakeholder roles, implementation strategies, resource requirements, and monitoring frameworks to guide mental health service delivery for OFWs.

The study also emphasizes the involvement of several key agencies.

The Department of Health would oversee service delivery and workforce development.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology would manage digital infrastructure.

PhilHealth would explore financing mechanisms.

The Philippine Psychiatric Association and Philippine Migrant Health Network would contribute to the development of service delivery models and clinical guidelines.

“Ensuring the success of telepsychiatry for OFWs requires strong inter-agency collaboration and stakeholder engagement,” Dr. Plata said.

“This initiative is a significant step toward inclusive mental health care, ensuring that OFWs have access to support services no matter where they are in the world,” added DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Jaime Montoya.

Dr. Plata’s team is currently coordinating with the DMW-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to assess the feasibility of a full-scale telemental health program for OFWs.

“We aim to disseminate the policy briefs and engage with relevant stakeholders to determine the best strategies for implementing and sustaining a telepsychiatry program that aligns with the current mental health initiatives for OFWs,” said Cristela Candelario, a consultant with the DMSF project team.

The policy work is supported by the DOST-PCHRD’s Health Research Policy Translation, Evaluation, and Engagement (POLISEE) Grants Program.

POLISEE promotes the use of health research in policy development and supports the creation of clinical guidelines, health standards, and engagement tools to advance evidence-based policymaking.