Most of the returnee migrant workers face various challenges upon returning to the country, which increase their vulnerability to psychological problems, claimed a sturdy report released on Wednesday.

The study titled “Measuring the Effectiveness of Psycho-Social Counseling Services on the Lives of Returned Migrant Workers: An Assessment” was published by the BRAC Migration Programme.

“Different factors, such as incidents occurring abroad, after coming back to home, and social perception towards returnees contributed to the development of diverse psychological problems,” said the study report.

After coming back home from abroad, returnees experience different incidents like financial crisis, relationship conflict with family members, separation and divorce, mentioned the study.

Prof Kamal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury of Department of Clinical Psychology at University of Dhaka led the study under the Switzerland-funding ‘Reintegration of Migrant Workers in Bangladesh’ project.

“We have talked to expatriates and seen that migrants suffer from mental crises due to specific reasons such as loneliness, physical and mental abuse, loss of job, and not getting a proper salary. But like everyone else in Bangladesh, expatriates do not give importance to mental health,” he said.

“But we have seen people who have taken or received counselling become more confident quickly. Especially women who have recovered faster than men,” he added.

Addressing the programme as chief guest, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Abdul Mannan, said, “Mental health is a very important issue, which we cannot understand many times. The government is giving importance to the matter.”