Effects of Mental Health Paraprofessional Training for Filipina Foreign Domestic Workers in Singapore

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 571-579
Author(s):  
M. H. M. Wong ◽  
Shian-Ling Keng ◽  
P. J. Buck ◽  
S. Suthendran ◽  
A. Wessels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Domestic Workers ◽  
Paraprofessional Training ◽  
Foreign Domestic Workers

Mental Health Paraprofessional Training for Filipina Foreign Domestic Workers in Singapore: Feasibility and Effects on Knowledge About Depression and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Skills

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S626-S626
Author(s):  
M.H.M. Wong ◽  
S.L. Keng ◽  
P.J.B. Buck ◽  
T. Ostbye ◽  
A. Wessels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Domestic Workers ◽  
Stepped Care ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Wait List ◽  
Paraprofessional Training ◽  
Foreign Domestic Workers

IntroductionApproximately one in every five Singaporean households employs Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) (Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics [Home], 2015). Mental health problems, especially depression, are prevalent among FDWs in Singapore (HOME, 2015). Yet, there is a lack of empirically-supported interventions to address their mental health needs.ObjectiveTo train FDWs as mental health paraprofessionals with selected CBT skills for depression, which may enable them to provide basic assistance to their fellow domestic workers with depressive symptoms.AimsTo present and assess the effectiveness and acceptability of a 4 weekly 3-hour group CBT-based paraprofessional training program for FDWs.MethodsParticipants were randomized into either an intervention or a wait-list control group. Participants in the wait-list group received the training after the intervention group completed the training. Both groups completed questionnaires assessing attitudes towards seeking psychological help; stigma towards people with depression; self-confidence in delivering CBT; general self-efficacy; knowledge of depression and CBT before, immediately after, and two months following the training.ResultsThirty-eight out of 40 participants completed the program. Both groups did not differ on changes in any of the outcome variables. However, within-group analyses showed improved attitudes towards seeking professional health for mental health issues; greater depression literacy; and CBT knowledge following the training. These changes were sustained at 2-month follow-up. All participants indicated high level of satisfaction with the program.ConclusionsThese preliminary results highlight the potential effectiveness and feasibility of implementing the training as a stepped-care mental health service to address the high rate of depression among the FDW community.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Better a Friend Nearby Than a Brother Far Away? The Health Implications of Foreign Domestic Workers’ Family and Friendship Networks

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 765-783
Author(s):  
Jing Ye ◽  
Feinian Chen
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Domestic Workers ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Personal Network ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Daily Contact ◽  
Foreign Domestic Workers ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Migrant Domestic Workers

Migrant domestic workers provide essential services to the families they live with, but they are not considered a part of the family. As a group, they are not well-integrated into the society and often suffer from social isolation. In this article, we explore the potential health buffering effects of their personal network, in terms of family and friendship ties in both the local community and their home country. Existing literature provides inconsistent evidence on who and what matters more, with regard to the nature, strength, and geographic locations of individual personal networks. Using data from the Survey of Migrant domestic Workers in Hong Kong (2017), we find that family ties are extremely important. The presence of family members in Hong Kong as well as daily contact with family, regardless of location, are associated with better self-reported health. Only daily contact with friends in Hong Kong, not with friends in other countries, promotes better health. We also find evidence that the protective effects of family and friends networks depend on each other. Those foreign domestic workers with families in Hong Kong but also maintain daily contact with friends have the best self-reported health among all.

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