Mental wellbeing of migrant workers in shelters a concern

Visakhapatnam: For the mental wellbeing of migrant workers living in GVMC shelters, the district mental health programme (DMHP) team is conducting sessions to help them. Currently there are 1,050 migrant workers and homeless people living in 21 GVMC shelters.

Programme nodal officer Dr Vasundhara, DTCO, said, “The programme began on April 6 and the team has visited all the shelters and counselled more than 850 people. Counselling sessions, stress management strategies, screening for mental disorders like anxiety, depression, panic/phobic disorders, and individual/group psychotherapy are being organised.”

If a person’s behaviour shows marked difference, a psychologist conducts clinical interview. Severe cases are referred to Government Hospital Mental Care. For mild to medium cases, the team conducts individual/group psychotherapy, counselling.

“Paranoid schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorder, conversion disorder, alcohol and drug addiction disorders have been observed among the inmates,” clinical psychologist Dr Bhavani said, adding that around 10 people in shelter homes are suffering from severe mental health issues.

Speaking to TOI, Dr S Radharani, medical superintendent of Government Hospital Mental Care, said, “We have been counselling migrant workers for past few weeks. Those requiring medication are being given the same.”