Migration and Mental Health: An Overview of the Current Crisis

By Eada Gendelman

Although mental health has become a hot topic over the last several years, little attention is paid to the unique psychological risk immigrants and refugees face. Before, during, and after the process of immigration, migrants experience significant trauma and stress. Thus, it is not surprising that they are at a higher risk for depressive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, and suicidal ideation.

Before migration, asylum seekers, refugees, and other migrants may be exposed to violence, poverty, political oppression, threats, and natural disasters in their country of origin. Although these individuals are rarely responsible for their circumstances, many immigrants report feeling a sense of personal failure when they are unable to provide for their family or keep their loved ones safe. 

According to the American Psychiatric Association, the migration process itself is also considered highly traumatic. While traveling, migrants and refugees may experience violence, environmental hazards, abandonment, separation, and may witness death. These factors are associated with severe mental health outcomes.

It is a commonly held belief that once immigrants complete the migration process and settle into their host country, they no longer struggle with their mental health. Recent data from the Pew Research Center suggests that this actually is not the case. Kirmayer (2019) reports that planned migrants in particular experience a steep decline in their mental health the more time they spend in their host country. There are a range of reasons for this:

Firstly, migrants and refugees often experience overt and covert acts of racism and religious discrimination in their host countries. Whether it is verbal abuse, physical attacks, or systemic marginalization, racism and discrimination are detrimental to mental health. Further, it is common for migrants to experience disadvantages in employment, housing, academics, and healthcare, which also contributes to adverse mental health outcomes.

Even though migrants often attempt to flee poverty in their home countries, many continue to live in poverty once they have immigrated as well. This contributes to persistent instability and a lack of resources, in turn increasing risk for mental illness.

Migrants also experience significant fear and distrust. Many migrants live in widespread fear of deportation, which impacts their daily levels of anxiety and trauma. It is common for migrants to avoid health care and social services for fear of being deported, which compounds their risk for poor mental health. Migrants also frequently report distrust in the U.S. legal system, which may create further isolation.

Many immigrants face a range of challenges as they are forced to leave their lives behind and live in complete uncertainty. Because of this considerable trauma and loss to overcome, we must make it a priority to address the migrant mental health crisis.