A national study of psychiatry outpatient visits by lower-skilled male migrant workers in Qatar

TL;DR

This study examines the mental health of lower-skilled male migrant workers in Qatar, finding high rates of anxiety and depression linked to stressors like isolation and financial issues.

Contribution

The study is the first to characterize psychiatric morbidity among lower-skilled migrant workers in Qatar’s outpatient psychiatry clinics.

Findings

Over two-thirds of participants presented with anxiety or depressive disorders.

Common stressors included limited social support, family separation, and financial issues.

Two-thirds were non-compliant with treatment, and one-fourth were lost to follow-up.

Abstract

Arab countries host 10% of all migrants globally. Migrant workers are known to have a high burden of physical and psychiatric morbidity. Most of the published literature on mental health among migrant workers is from non-Arab countries. The limited literature on migrant workers’ mental health in Arab countries is a critical research gap. It is pertinent to study well-defined migrant groups within well-defined host country conditions to yield pragmatic answers to inform service delivery.

The current study aims to complement existing data by characterizing psychiatric morbidity in a well-defined migrant group within a specifically defined context of migration.

Retrospective review of patient notes.

All participants were men, and most of them were aged between 30 and 49 years. More than two-thirds presented with anxiety or depressive disorders. More than half had a past psychiatric history. Psychological distress was linked to stressors such as limited social support, living away from family, financial stressors, family-related stressors, and work-related stress. One-fourth of the participants reported stress related to the pandemic. Half of them reported physical health comorbidities. Two-thirds were not compliant with treatment plans, and one-fourth were lost to follow-up.

This is the first study to provide insight into the psychiatric morbidity of lower-skilled migrants presenting to outpatient psychiatry clinics in Qatar. The psychiatric morbidity of migrants is mainly centered around depressive and anxiety-related disorders. The most common challenges encountered in the management of patients include patient concordance with medication and loss to follow-up. Mitigation strategies are vital for ensuring the psychological well-being of migrant workers.