With Iranian missile and drone strikes having already hit Manama and the broader security situation in the Gulf showing no signs of immediate resolution, the Philippine Department of Health is stepping in to address the psychological toll on Overseas Filipino Workers stationed in Bahrain.
The DOH has scheduled a free, confidential online Mental Health and Psychosocial Support session for Filipinos in Bahrain on March 31, 2026, at 8:00 PM Bahrain time, to be held via Zoom.
The Philippine Embassy in Manama has thrown its support behind the initiative, urging members of the Filipino community to take advantage of the service. Registration is open through this link: https://forms.gle/iTCi6jbtSLttZYfQA
The timing is deliberate. Bahrain has been under direct Iranian fire since late February, when Tehran launched retaliatory strikes on the country following the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran. At least two people have been killed and more than 50 injured on Bahraini soil. The U.S. Embassy in Manama has since suspended all consular services, and Gulf Air relocated its fleet to Saudi Arabia as airspace across the region remains intermittently restricted or closed.
Port operations in Bahrain have been suspended, trade routes disrupted, and the Strait of Hormuz — a critical corridor for global shipping — remains effectively closed. For OFWs whose livelihoods, mobility, and safety have been upended by the conflict, the psychosocial pressures are compounding alongside the physical risks.
The MHPSS program is framed by the DOH as part of a broader effort toward mental health recovery and resilience-building for Filipinos caught in the crisis zone.
