Leaving your country behind and facing new challenges
When you decide to leave your country in the Global South, you often have to leave your family and friends behind. You risk an uncertain journey, putting your life in danger, to reach a new place with a different language and cultural codes. In this new place, it doesn’t matter who you are, what you used to do, or what you expected from life. Rigid and discriminatory immigration policies consider you an ‘illegal’, ‘irregular’ or ‘undocumented’ person if you don’t have close European ancestors. This makes you vulnerable and can expose you to situations of extreme vulnerability, discrimination, racism and xenophobia. These experiences can significantly affect your mental health, leaving you in situations of uprooting, isolation and emotional emptiness.
The stress factors in the journey and arrival
Migrant youth may experience stressors during the journey and the first few years in the new country. These factors can lead to migration grief in some cases. The mental health of young migrants can be affected by the chronic stress caused by the conditions of extreme vulnerability and danger in which they choose to migrate. This stress can lead to mental disorders such as anxiety, depression and other more serious disorders.
The impact on the mental health of young migrants
The mental health of young migrants can be affected by various factors, including stress, discrimination, racism and xenophobia. These factors can lead to mental disorders such as anxiety, depression and other eating disorders. Importantly, each person has a unique story and context, and this complexity must be taken into account in the mental health care of migrant youth.
The importance of care and prevention
It is essential to provide adequate care and support to young migrants in relation to their mental health. This involves addressing the structural factors that contribute to the inequality and vulnerability in which these young people find themselves. It is necessary to work in an interdisciplinary manner and provide tools that strengthen emotional management, self-awareness and conflict resolution. Prevention is key to prevent young migrants from suffering from mental disorders and to promote their social and work reintegration.
The importance of training and awareness
It is crucial that health, education and justice professionals receive adequate training to address the mental health needs of migrant youth. It is important to have an interculturally appropriate and sensitive perspective to ensure that these young people feel respected and understood. In addition, it is essential to work on raising awareness and preventing racism and discrimination suffered by migrants.
conclusion
The mental health of young migrants is a cross-cultural challenge that requires appropriate attention and a comprehensive approach. It is essential to work on prevention, provide emotional support and promote the social and labor reintegration of these young people. It is necessary to take into account the structural factors that contribute to the inequality and vulnerability in which they find themselves, and work on the training and awareness of professionals to guarantee quality care.
