Posted in: 28/12/2020 – 15:12
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The Covid-19 epidemic has exacerbated the psychological disorders observed in young immigrants due to the often arduous migration journey, due to increased isolation, two sociologists said in an interview with Agence France-Presse.
In Europe, the social and administrative status of immigrants is often uneven, with some having completed their studies and others not. On the one hand, these immigrants have a common feature of being young, with an average age of 29.2 years in 2019 according to Urotsat, and they are in a precarious position, according to Patricia Longle, a sociology professor at the School of Advanced Health Studies. General in Rennes (western France).
This researcher, together with Alicia Lovibor, a sociologist and director of studies at the college, is leading a research project on the health of young immigrants that she presented on The Conversation.
Migrants’ mental health is already at stake: 38 percent of them experience mental disorders (depression, suicidal thoughts …), according to the Primo Levi Research Center. “They have had traumatic experiences during the migration journey and are vulnerable to mental and psychosomatic illnesses,” Lunkle said.
Ulysses syndrome, which is chronic stress resulting from exposure to anxiety-inducing events over a long period, is one of the most common diseases.
“The behaviors can be very dangerous, and they may experience anxiety attacks or hallucinations resulting from the stress associated with uncertainty,” said Lunkle, noting that there are obstacles to support them due to the lack of space and training for professionals.
Since the onset of the health crisis, the feeling of insecurity has increased among migrants. At times, food was not available to them and their isolation increased sharply.
– Informal Help –
“We put people in safety, but they found themselves left to fend for themselves. Many small associations were forced to suspend their activities and the immigrants’ sense of isolation and displacement further exacerbated,” said Alicia Lovibore. In addition, all informal aid, such as workshops, games and snacks organized by associations to aid immigrants, has stopped.
And the researcher added, “There is no longer human warmth around them, as human interaction depends mainly on volunteers, and their mental health has deteriorated further.”
In France, “the state takes care of their administrative status, but they only exist by their status as immigrants and not as vulnerable and extremely poor people,” according to the researcher.
In February, the French National Academy of Medicine considered the immigrants’ health status “worrying”, citing their mental disorders “six times more than the average population”. She attributed this especially to the instability of housing and hygiene conditions, in addition to the delay in obtaining their rights.
Among the more dangerous conditions, the two researchers referred in particular to administrative detention centers, some of which remained open during the closures imposed to combat Covid-19, despite the impossibility of returning detainees to their countries of origin.
“The state considers these centers a stop before deportation to another destination. Therefore, there was no concern for the detainees’ suffering. Last year, the General Comptroller of Detention Centers condemned the difficulty in obtaining care for detainees, especially psychological care,” said Lefebor. Exacerbate their condition.
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