OFW – Overseas Filipino Workers has a lot of money

OFW depression common problem and burden to some, sadly they are never understood.

For many Filipinos, the word abroad is not just a simple means of a foreign land.

Instead, it has a deep meaning that seems attached to our culture.

A word that every Filipino grew up with. Money, richness, abundance, and hope are some of the ideas that Filipino view this word.

This might be true, as there are some who really succeed in working abroad.

But this doesn’t mean that if one got successful all will be.

It always depends on the circumstances. No matter how good you are at work or kind this is not a guarantee that you will succeed like others.

It just really depends on the situation, simple as it is.

The United Arab Emirates is a hub of many overseas Filipino workers, it seems many Pinoy workers are almost in all industries here. But Like what I mention not all these workers are successful or rich. Some of them are struggling and fighting their own problems.

One of the toughest scenarios I’ve encountered on the battle of many Filipinos here in Dubai is a mental health concern.

There are many Filipinos here who are actually suffering from anxiety and depression, but most are not transparent discussing it. Because they know that our culture is not yet open about this issue.

They chose to keep it knowing many wouldn’t understand them.

Most of them came here without this sickness yet. We never know what would be causes of why they had suffered from this condition. Many factors might affect such as problems, trauma, and more.

Personally I’ve known few people here that are suffering from this sickness. Going back to the Philippines is the first thing but also the last thing they would want to do.

First thing because they surely miss their strength, their families.

Last thing in the sense that they don’t want to be a burden to the people relying on them.

They choose to stay and to fight no matter how hard. But sadly, despite this situation, their families back home don’t fully understand them.

Instead of supporting them and let them feel that whatever happens everything will be fine, they are pushing them on the limit.

Non-stop calls to remind their OFW family of their obligations to them are the torture some are experiencing. Providing materials support to our parents, siblings are really our obligations and part of our culture. But what if one is getting weak and weaker what should be the solutions? What if that person is totally not in a good position now, how they should handle it?

Sustaining the medical expenses of people having depression is not a small amount. Though we have health insurance here, this condition is not part of the terms yet. The medical treatment expenses are totally a burden to patients, but they don’t have a choice.

That amount means of helping them to live normally and to hide their sickness from their employers.

But no matter how much they explain people will never understand, either they can’t get it or don’t want to understand it for their benefit

The first reason why OFW chose to work abroad is to help their family, but what if something happened unexpectedly like depression how do that person fulfill his plan, they didn’t like it and never do it intentionally.

Understanding the whole situation and be thankful for what they can give would be the best we can give to a depressed person.

Be patient, and help yourselves back home to survive like what other depressed people are trying to do here. 

Torturing your OFW family by pressuring or blaming them for not supporting fully your needs is useless. You will not make the depressed person feels motivated with that. You are just adding a negative feeling to them. And you might not be knowing that you are making yourself a reason for them to end their life.

So be considerate and careful in dealing with people have this condition, this not a joke nor drama this means LIFE.

Note: the depression I am pertaining to above is a clinical depression with suicidal thoughts. It is hard to understand them but let’s do our best to be a friend to them.

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