Internal migration impacts on the mental health of Bangladeshi female ready-made garment workers: a phenomenological study

The focus of this study is to understand the impact of internal migration (rural-to-urban) on the mental health of female garment workers in Bangladesh with reference to the psychological trauma of rural-to-urban migration. In detail, thirteen female migrant workers aged between 18 and 50 who moved within the past five years for job purposes in the garment industry were interviewed using a qualitative phenomenological approach. Based on the study, we find that work-related anxiety, working too long, bad working conditions, social isolation and separation from family lead to emotional stresses. On the other hand, it also underscores the fact that migration can offer economic opportunities, financial independence and empowerment which may increase self-esteem and give a sense of achievement. Our findings indicate that migration's mental health effect is dual, positive and negative, depending on the individual experience. It highlights the urgency to develop targeted interventions to improve psychological dimensions of mental health services for this group, bring about workplace improvements, and create supportive systems within which female migrants can be supported to overcome their psychological challenges. There is still more to do in future research to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions intended to improve the wellbeing of migrant workers as well as the longitudinal effects of migration on mental health.