MENTAL health of expatriates living in Bahrain will come under the spotlight at a legal and medical awareness programme to be held this weekend.
‘Connecting People’ is being organised by the Pravasi Legal Cell (PLC) Bahrain Chapter on Saturday at the KIMSHEALTH hospital in Umm Al Hassam from 7.30pm.
PLC Bahrain country head Sudheer Thirunilath told the GDN they were concerned about cases of suicide and sudden cardiac arrest among young people in the country.
“In the past few weeks we have dealt with two such cases that required immediate attention,” he said.
“The first case is of a 30-year-old Indian man, Harjinder Singh from Punjab, who died due to sudden cardiopulmonary arrest on July 31, while the other case involved a 25-year-old Indian salon worker, Nilu Tamang from West Bengal, who committed suicide on July 19.”
Mr Thirunilath said both the incidents once again focused on the mental health of expats.
“It’s unfortunate to hear and handle such cases because these can be avoided if there were proper channels in place for such individuals to reach out for help.
“During and after Covid-19, the mental health of several people, including expats, was affected one way or the other, whether due to tensions of not finding a job after being laid off, financial issues, loan sharks, residency status or medical related.”
The GDN reported previously that 40pc of those who took part in a study on mental health impact of the pandemic suffered from depression.
Social distancing and isolation triggered post-traumatic distress in 20pc, while another 53.4pc reported perceived stigma, or fear of being discriminated against.
Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF) chairman Dr Babu Ramachandran said post Covid-19 individuals have faced challenges related to job losses, health, switch from remote learning after schools re-opening, which he said affected individuals in one way or another.
“There are cases of depressions out there and we do our level best to reach out to them via our hotlines that are part of the ICRF’s LIFE initiative which stands for Listen, Involve, Foster and Engage,” he said.
“The helpline is mainly to address anxiety and related issues that expats face in Bahrain, and we have helped different nationalities.
“We speak to communities about changing one’s lifestyle, reducing stress and reaching out for help.”
The ICRF, which operates under the auspices of the Indian Embassy, trained nearly 100 volunteers in 2018, following an alarming increase in suicides – as many as 30 – in the country.
The training sessions, however, had to be shelved due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ICRF hotlines are 39430708, 38415171 and 35990990.
Meanwhile, Mr Thirunilath said experts will touch upon the pressing issues facing the expat community at the event that will also discuss safe migration, featuring lawyers and community leaders.
“We want to provide valuable insights and guidance to individuals planning to migrate, ensuring their safety, well-being, and legal protection.”
He said an expert doctor will discuss the significance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the impact it has on one’s overall well-being.
For registration, contact 39461746, 33052258 and 33052485.
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