Researchers from the Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) have called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to take the lead in coordinating and establishing diplomatic frameworks to facilitate the implementation of telepsychiatry services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). 

The recommendations are based on a 2021 study entitled, “Acceptability of Telepsychiatry among Overseas Filipino Workers in Kuwait,” conducted by the DMSF team, with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The research explored the feasibility of telepsychiatry services for OFWs. Findings revealed that 40% of 55 participants experienced mental health challenges, with acute stress disorder and major depressive order being the most common diagnoses. OFWs expressed a high level of acceptance toward telepsychiatry, underscoring its potential as an accessible solution for mental health care.

Recognizing the need to scale up this initiative, a team led by Dr. Ma. Angelica Plata of the DMSF developed policy recommendations aimed at enabling sustainable access to telepsychiatry services. A key aspect of these recommendations is the development of diplomatic frameworks to support implementation efforts.

The DFA is urged to lead discussions on establishing embassy-based telepsychiatry support units abroad, facilitating agreements with foreign governments, and addressing cross-border data privacy concerns. Meanwhile, the DMW is encouraged to incorporate telepsychiatry into bilateral agreements, ensuring host countries play an active role in the implementation. In addition, DMW is advised to enhance pre-deployment mental health programs by integrating mental health modules into orientation seminars and screenings for OFWs before deployment.

Dr. Plata’s team developed  a total of seven policy briefs outlining the roles of stakeholders in delivering mental health services. These documents provide recommendations on implementation strategies, necessary resources, and monitoring frameworks, offering an evidence-based approach to sustaining mental health services for OFWs.

Apart from DFA and DMW, the study also emphasizes the involvement of other agencies as follows: the Department of Health (DOH) for the service delivery framework and human resource development, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for technological infrastructure development, Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) for financing schemes, and the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA) and Philippine Migrant Health Network (PMHN) for the development of service delivery framework and establishment of clinical guidelines. 

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

“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,” said DOST – PCHRD Executive Director Jaime Montoya. “By supporting the translation of research into policy, we hope to make healthcare more accessible to Filipinos globally.”

Currently, Dr. Plata’s team is coordinating with the DMW Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (DMW-OWWA) to assess the feasibility of a 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 Ms. Cristela Candelario, a consultant of the DMSF project team.

The policy recommendations were developed under the Health Research Policy Translation, Evaluation, and Engagement (POLISEE) Grants Program of the DOST-PCHRD, which supports the utilization of health research in policymaking. POLISEE aids in the development of health standards, clinical guidelines, policy instruments, and stakeholder engagement to advance evidence-based policymaking in healthcare.

To view the policy briefs, visit: https://bit.ly/ANDITOPolicyBriefs