The topic of mental health has gained a lot of momentum in recent years. The WHO slogan “there is no health without mental health” clarifies this.
Mental health is an issue affecting millions of people worldwide, with suicide being the fourth leading cause of deathamong 15-29-year-olds. Not only, but mental illnesses also have physical repercussions on those suffering from them, decreasing their life expectancy of almost two decades. For these reasons, mental health is vital, particularly in the race to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
When it comes to refugees and asylum seekers, mental health is an even more sensitive issue that affect them on a large scale. In fact, refugees and migrants are exposed to several stress factors that impact their well-being both during their journey and settlement process. Compared to host communities, asylum seekers and refugees have a higher likelihood of experiencing mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD. Combined with the latter, is often a lack of mental health support and services that can ensure migrants’ and refugees’ well-being. Discontinuity during care is also a major problem for these groups due to the uncertainty surrounding their situation, which further contributes to mental disorders such as stress and anxiety.
From pre-migration to settlement, migrants’ mental health is a constant struggle
Individuals migrating in search of a better life have often experienced poor opportunities for education and development and a lack of livelihoods. Also, asylum seekers often flee dangerous conflicts, violence, exploitation, and persecution. All these elements represent stress factors that adversely affect the well-being of migrants and refugees.
When undertaking dangerous journeys that are not carried out through #SafeAndLegalRoutes, migrants are exposed to life-threatening conditions, including violence and trafficking. The consequence of trauma arising from this, negatively impacts their well-being and may lead to mental health issues including PTSD, stress, anxiety and more.
The post-migration stage is also a challenging one, due to the uncertainty revolving around migrants’ lives and their future. In fact, migrants also face numerous barriers at this stage, including a lack of health care and support, poor living conditions and, at times, detention. All these barriers further contribute to the disruption of migrants’ well-being and mental health struggles they are forced to face.
When it comes to the settlement process and the integration of migrants into local communities, other stress factorsmay arise from these experiences. Unemployment, poor living conditions and cultural assimilation may result highly challenging for refugees, especially when tension between host communities and migrants is present. Racism and xenophobia can also adversely impact the well-being of migrants, creating cultural barriers that hinder integration and development.
Final considerations/Mental health matters
The psychosocial and mental health consequences that asylum seekers and refugees are often forced to face have devastating effects on their development and well-being, something that may also negatively impact the settlement process in host countries, causing instability and tensions across different cultural groups. However, refugees and migrants should not be considered helpless individuals relying only on outsiders’ help. In fact, this group of people’s resilience and determination to survive should be seen as a positive and vital element of their recovery. It is also critical that countries implement policies and strategies that aid the well-being of migrants and refugees and increase their investment on all fronts, reducing stigma and increasing mental health awareness.
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