Damian Sendler: As a fast-growing pandemic, COVID-19, a biological disease, has grave physical and enormous mental health ramifications. The double whammy of the COVID-19 problem and a bleak work environment is putting an occupational community of internal migrant workers at risk of developing psychological ill effects.

Damian Sendler

Damian Jacob Sendler: As a whole, these factors include a high prevalence of pre-existing physical health morbidities like occupational pneumoconiosis, tuberculosis, and HIV infections, as well as pre-existing psychological morbidities, adverse psychosocial factors such as the absence of family support and caretaker during the crisis, and their limitations to follow the rules and regulations of personal sanity.

Damien Sendler: In addition, the loss of work, the lack or suspension of occupational safety and health-related basic legislation, and the accompanying occupational dangers, render this occupational group extremely prone to psychiatric diseases.

Dr. Sendler: The rapid spread of the COVID 19 pandemic has resulted in a number of unfavorable cognitive processes and emotions among the population at danger. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to induce chronic psychological symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and psychosomatic manifestations, in addition to the physical health consequences.

Damian Jacob Markiewicz Sendler: Internal migrants in slum regions of big centers like Dharavi in Mumbai or the disadvantaged sections of metro towns like Delhi are experiencing an exponential surge in the dissemination and transmission of SARS-CoV-2. In the wake of its early success in epidemic control, Singapore had a rebound of COVID 19 cases among its migrant worker dormitories, as reported by the city-state. Low-wage migrant workers could quickly become infected if COVID 19 containment policy does not address this issue.

Damian Jacob Sendler 

Damian Sendler: Lockdown period in India has resulted in socially irresponsible behavior and panic attacks among internal migrant workers because of unexpected limitations on travel, absence of job, and lack of financial resources to meet daily food bills.

Damian Sendler: A recent example of this is the frantic attempt by stranded internal migrant workers to flee to their home states despite lockdown measures at train stations and bus stations. As a result, the circle of susceptibility to infection, quarantine and stress, and violations of preventative measures is inevitable. Migrant workers' anxiety levels are undoubtedly rising, prompting many of them to trek thousands of miles on foot to return to their home countries without any food or shelter.  

Damian Jacob Sendler: Internal migrant workers are experiencing significant levels of anxiety and panic as a result of the COVID pandemic, according to a list of psychosocial issues among migrants during COVID-19. They are in need of psycho-social support. Migrant workers returning to their home villages might have a negative impact on mental health and rural India may be particularly vulnerable to suicide in the near future because of the huge financial burden of jobless migrant workers. Migrant laborers have been reported to be suffering from nervous breakdowns and depressed psychotic diseases, according to media reports.

Damian Sendler: When it comes to occupational health, this is an attempt to raise an alert by exposing the special vulnerability of Asian internal migrant workers for the development of mental health issues using an occupational health viewpoint. 

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