Dimensions to address mental health in the context of migration. A scientific literature review between 2016 and 2019

Abstract

Introduction: This paper proposes a critical review of the mental health category, given the challenges of migration. Objective: To review the recent scientific literature on the articulation of mental health and migration categories. Method: 36 scientific articles published between 2016 and 2019 were reviewed. They were selected through a systematic process of searching for scientific literature in the databases Pubmed, Ebsco, Science Direct and Scielo. It was made a qualitative analysis to characterized and identified trends and particularities in research. Results: the approach to mental health is mainly focused on problems, symptoms and mental illnesses. The articles are eminently quantitative and specific to the health area. They were carried out in high-income countries that receiving migrants in vulnerable situations. It is observed differential effects between pre-migration and postmigration, and between men and women migrants as well. Other papers studying the particular impact on children and adolescents, or the role of social determinants in migration. Discussion and conclusions: the migratory phenomenon merits a critical review of the mental health category centered exclusively on mental problems and disorders. It is important to promote also a positive understanding of mental health in interventions with the migrant population.