Mental Health

From the onset, Workers' Welfare & Labour Rights has been aware of the importance of our workers' mental wellbeing. They come from different parts of the world, and we understand that they may feel isolated or homesick in a new country.

Workers sitting inside Ras Abu Aboud Stadium – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ construction site

In 2019, we designed a comprehensive, integrated mental healthcare channel for all workers employed on FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ projects, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).

This system aims to identify and support workers with mental health issues by providing better, faster access to treatment and counselling in a safe, secure environment. Doctors and nurses across SC sites and accommodations have received mental health awareness and screening training which enhances their ability to identify and address potential issues among workers. Over 8,500 workers have gone through mental health screenings since 2019.

Our focus on workers' mental health intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. We worked closely with specialists at the MoPH and HMC to develop a tailored mental health awareness campaign to provide support in these challenging times. The campaign used infographics and videos in eight languages to address key issues such as anxiety, depression, general wellbeing and the importance of staying active.