Andria Spyridou from UNICEF tells us about the challenges faced by migrant and refugee children and how displacement and migration can impact their mental health
Migrant and refugee children are particularly vulnerable, facing heightened risks of family separation, violence, and life-threatening conditions during their journeys, including gender-based violence, risks of trafficking, exploitation, and serious health conditions.
What factors may increase young people’s vulnerability to mental health issues after experiencing displacement and migration?
Young people face a unique set of challenges in the context of displacement and migration that heighten their vulnerability to mental health issues. Factors include:
- Trauma, loss, and separation: Exposure to adversities that could potentially be traumatic before or during migration, including violence, abuse, exploitation, loss of family members, or abrupt cultural shifts, can trigger post-traumatic stress and anxiety. Separation from family members and close friends could also be very detrimental, especially for younger children.
- Uncertainty and instability: The lack of stability in their living environment, education, and legal status, as well as the unknown of the route and hazards along the route, contributes to chronic stress and feelings of insecurity.
- Language and cultural barriers: Language limitations and unfamiliar cultural norms may lead to isolation, a diminished sense of identity, and difficulty making connections. Adjusting to a new culture, language, and social norms can be challenging and lead to feelings of isolation and discrimination.
- Financial and social strain: Financial hardships and the stress of supporting family needs can weigh heavily on young people, impacting self-esteem and motivation.
- Discrimination and stigma: Encounters with xenophobia or discrimination in host communities can foster a sense of exclusion, amplifying feelings of anxiety or depression.
How can migration affect the mental health of children and adolescents in the short and long term?
Migration impacts mental health across several dimensions:
- Short-term effects: Initially, children and adolescents may experience intense anxiety, sadness, difficulty sleeping, or disorientation as they adjust to new surroundings. They might face academic struggles due to language barriers, leading to frustration and diminished self-worth.
- Long-term effects: Long-term impacts may include chronic anxiety, depression, and difficulties with trust and attachment. Adolescents who experience repeated relocations may also struggle with forming a stable identity, exacerbating feelings of rootlessness and alienation. Persistent stress without support can increase vulnerability to mental health disorders later in life, including substance abuse and suicide attempts. They may also face academic difficulties affecting their studies and economic situation in the future.
How important is family unity in safeguarding young people’s mental wellbeing?
Family unity is crucial for mental stability and emotional resilience, providing:
- Emotional support: The presence of close family members offers a sense of safety, belonging, and a shared understanding of migration-related challenges.
- Stability and routine: Family unity can create a more predictable environment, which is vital for children’s sense of security.
- Role modeling: Family members who model resilience and coping strategies positively impact children’s mental health, guiding them in navigating new environments.
- Cultural transmission: The preservation of cultural identity and traditions.
Conversely, family separation can exacerbate feelings of abandonment, anxiety, and emotional distress, leaving young people feeling isolated. In addition, family separation also exposes children and adolescents to other protection risks along the route. We must continue to work so that we can prevent family separation along the route.
What are some common barriers to mental health support in host countries?
There are multiple barriers to accessing mental health support in host countries, such as:
- Language and cultural differences: Services may not be available in the native languages of migrants, and cultural misunderstandings may hinder effective care.
- Financial constraints: Mental health services are often costly and may not be covered by insurance, placing them out of reach for many migrant families.
- Lack of information: Migrant families may be unaware of available services or may not know how to navigate the health system in the host country.
- Legal status, fear of deportation: Undocumented families might fear that seeking mental health services could expose them to immigration authorities.
- Stigma: Cultural beliefs around mental health can prevent families from seeking support due to stigma associated with mental illness.
- Systemic barriers: Inadequate mental health infrastructure and workforce shortages.
How would you like to see policymakers address the gaps in access to mental health services for children and their families affected by migration?
In general, UNICEF continues to urge United Nations Member States in the region to adopt actions to ensure the rights, safety, and wellbeing of migrant and refugee children, including a coordinated regional approach, child-sensitive border reception and services, access to legal identity and regular status, and promoting integration and participation.
In particular, policymakers could address these gaps by:
- Enhancing accessibility: Provide low-cost or free mental health services with interpreters to ensure language inclusivity and culturally sensitive care.
- Training for providers: Equip mental health professionals with trauma-informed approaches specific to the migrant experience, recognizing the unique stressors of displaced youth.
- Community outreach: Implement outreach programs to inform migrant and refugee families of available mental health resources, reducing barriers of unfamiliarity or mistrust.
- Policy safeguards: Protect undocumented families from exposure to immigration enforcement when accessing health services, ensuring that fear does not prevent them from seeking care.
- Promoting family reunification: Advocate for policies that prioritize family unity in migration processes, as maintaining familial bonds is vital to emotional resilience for young people.
- Promote culturally competent care: Train mental health professionals to provide culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate services.
- Address systemic barriers: Implement policies that address systemic barriers, such as discrimination and economic hardship.
- Raise awareness: Conduct public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and promote help-seeking behaviors.
