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Category: Mental Health

• Author: Jarvis, G. Eric; Kirmayer, Laurence J
• Publication Date: 2023

Global migration is expected to continue to increase as climate change, conflict and economic disparities continue to challenge peoples' lives. The political response to migration is a social determinant of mental health. Despite the potential benefits of migration, many migrants and refugees face significant challenges after they resettle. The papers collected in this thematic issue of Transcultural Psychiatry explore the experience of migration and highlight some of the challenges that governments and healthcare services need to address to facilitate the social integration and mental health of migrants. Clinicians need training and resources to work effectively with migrants, focusing on their resilience and on long-term adaptive processes. Efforts to counter the systemic discrimination and structural violence that migrants often face need to be broad-based, unified, and persistent to make meaningful change. When migrants are free to realize their talents and aspirations, they can help build local communities and societies that value diversity.

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Category: Mental Health

• Author: Hernández-Vásquez, Akram; Visconti-Lopez, Fabriccio J; Rojas-Cueva, Alexandra C; Grendas, Leandro Nicolás; Azañedo, Diego
• Publication Date: 2023

The objective of this study was to analyze the association between food insecurity and mental health in Venezuelan migrants and refugees residing in Peru using data from the Survey Directed at the Venezuelan Population Residing in the Country (ENPOVE) conducted in 2022. The analysis included 7739 Venezuelan adults. The presence of mental health problems was self-reported, and household food insecurity was measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. The study found that 4 out of 10 participants lived in households with moderate to severe food insecurity, and around 10% reported experiencing some mental health problem in the last month. The study identified a positive association between living in households with moderate to severe food insecurity and having some mental health problem compared to living in households without food insecurity. The findings suggest that food insecurity is a common problem among the Venezuelan migrant population residing in Peru, and measures are required to address this problem and mitigate its consequences on mental health and other health problems. The study highlights the need for international organizations to provide assistance and support to these populations and ensure adequate and sustainable follow-up of food insecurity at the national level. It is also necessary to implement early detection tests for mental health problems in the migrant population, especially in individuals exposed to food insecurity. This study provides relevant evidence for addressing public health in the Venezuelan migrant population residing in Peru.

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Category: Mental Health

• Author: Health and Migration Programme (PHM), Mental Health and Substance Use (MHS)
• Publication Date: 10 October 2023

This is the fifth report of the Global Evidence Review on Health and Migration (GEHM) series. The publication focuses on the mental health needs of refugees and migrants by providing an overview of the available evidence on patterns of risk and protective factors and of facilitators and barriers to care at all levels (individual, family, community and national government). It identifies five high-level themes, each of which has implications for research and policy and is relevant across refugee and migrant groups, contexts and stages of the migration process: self-identity and community support; basic needs and security; cultural concepts of mental health as well as stigma; exposure to adversity and potentially traumatic events; navigating mental health and other systems and services.
Based on these five themes, policy considerations are put forward to serve as a starting point for recognizing and responding to the needs of refugee and migrant groups.
Ensuring that those at risk of mental health conditions are identified and adequately supported, while understanding the factors that facilitate access to mental health services is essential for effective policy and programming.

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Category: Mental Health

• Author: Jonathan Beier Karla Fredricks
• Publication Date: April 2023

The number of immigrant children traveling to the United States without a parent or legal guardian has increased considerably over the last decade, reaching a historic high in 2022. When these children leave government custody to live with a family member or other sponsor while they await the outcome of their immigration proceedings, many find it difficult to access the services and supports they need to thrive. Medical and mental health services are among the most critical, and having limited access to these services can harm both children and the communities in which they live. This report is the culmination of a joint initiative by the American Academy of Pediatrics and MPI to study unaccompanied children’s access to medical and mental health services in U.S. communities. It draws on field visits to three cities (Houston, Los Angeles, and New Orleans) and interviews and focus groups with more than 100 professionals working with this population, as well as unaccompanied children themselves.

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