The Impact of Migration on Mental Health
The experience of migration is often laden with a mix of good and bad. Our stories as migrants can be framed as stories of overcoming hardships or “superación”, and they often are. However, they come with their difficulties. We might want to be mindful of the hardest aspects and the often unspoken impact that migration can have on a person, a family and subsequent generations.
The psychological impact of migration I’d like to start by acknowledging that, depending on the reasons for migrating, the experience can be felt either as powerless or empowering. For example, if the process was forced or driven by war or economic crisis, it will generate different feelings than if the person chose to move to study or for career opportunities. What is often true, is that with new beginnings also come significant and multi-layered losses. Some of these losses might remain unnamed, but they have an impact throughout a person’s life. These include loss of family life, connection to community and culture – expressed through places, food, rituals, etc. –the loss of an imagined future, or the illness or death of loved ones, that you may experience while living far away from them. Grief is a key part of the process, just as gratitude can be. In the case of Latin Americans this can be especially hard due to the distance between the UK and our countries of origin which makes travel more difficult.
Another factor that is often present but seldom expressed is the process of cultural adjustment with all the complications it brings. How is our difference received? Are we shamed for it? If we feel a lack of acceptance we might be pulled into alienating important parts of ourselves, creating a long-lasting impact on our mental and emotional wellbeing. Some of the particular challenges Latinxs might encounter here in the UK, will have to do with emotional expression and relationship building. Norms vary widely, and when we are trying our best to navigate professional and social circles a pervasive sense of “not fitting in” or “being out of place” might start creeping in. If you ever start questioning yourself about these things, remember it is less about you as a person than the social norms that dominate the space.
Heritage and Identity
The impact of migration can often be felt long past the first generation, albeit in different ways.
The effects of trauma, traumatic losses, financial hardships or shame for example, can be passed to the next generations. This might also include the loss of community or a lack of access to extended family which, in many cultures, is a crucial part of our development.
Identity formation might become a complex process when living or growing up between cultures, especially in a society that is not open to difference. This is true for second and third generation immigrants but also for first generation migrants who have lived abroad for a very long time. There is often very little guidance and support in integrating changing perspectives and sense of identity after migration.
Sometimes these effects will compound with the racism or xenophobia that immigrants and their families will face. For second and third generations, experiences of growing up in a country that will not allow them to feel like they belong can generate long term mental health issues as many studies on racial trauma and stress have shown.
Latin Americans face a particular set of challenges in this sense. Not only the lack of common history makes it so British people know very little about our countries and cultures, we also come from a geographic area of high social, cultural and ethnic complexity. When we are recognised as Latinxs, our identities and experiences are often put in the same bag. Chronic invisibilisation or, visibility that comes with misrecognition, might exacerbate these feelings of not belonging. In turn it can also muddle the waters of our own sense of identity and connection with our roots.
Helpful practices
Most of us Latinxs in the UK might have experienced these things to varying degrees, but that doesn’t mean we can’t practice self-care to support ourselves. Here are some helpful practices that I have found can foster long-term wellbeing.
Learning to recognise and acknowledge all the good and bad of our migration experience. Gratitude for what it has brought shouldn’t disavow the presence of anger, regret, grief or shame. Letting ourselves feel what we need to feel and, if possible, express it to someone who will listen without judgment is key in processing complex emotions in a healthy manner.
Recognising the barriers or obstacles we face as migrants, and resisting the internalisation of negative messages we might encounter can help us greatly. For example, when we encounter racism or xenophobia, or if we ever experience shame due to our language level or accent. In both cases, it can be helpful to recognise these negative value judgements come from systems of oppression which discriminate against groups deemed different from the white norm. These systems project negative stereotypes onto people, they do not reflect our personal values or abilities.
Finding a community in which we feel at ease and experience some form of belonging. Creating a life around ourselves including career ambitions, hobbies, and safe spaces or support systems, will help with any feelings of regret or grief. Even if one community may not replace another, it can help us feel more at home in our new environment.
Reconnecting with our roots and finding cultural practices or ancestral wisdom that feels nurturing for us at a deep level can be a way of grounding ourselves, finding meaning, and reclaiming parts of our identity. Sometimes things become more complex than we expect and some extra support is needed. Therapy, mental health services or specialised support groups can help examine and untangle all the elements above, especially if they are a source of distress. Professional support can help strengthen our sense of self and identity and be more at peace with the losses incurred in the process of migrating.
