Impacts to mental and brain health on irregular and deported Colombian Migrants: Implications for policy and practice

Latin America has experienced one of the most pronounced increases in human mobility globally. Migration is a structural determinant of health for key vulnerable populations. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between mental health outcomes with structural and individual determinants of health for pre-departure and deported Colombians. We hypothesized that experiences of violence, adverse experiences before migration and less social capital significantly impact perceived mental health and brain health by proxy. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Bogotá to assess the feasibility of a Migrant Health Observatory. This novel study sampled hidden and hard-to-reach populations. We found socioeconomic status, gender and age as determinants of mental health for pre-departure migrants, which induced their decision to migrate irregularly. Deported individuals face greater vulnerabilities given greater prevalence of adverse childhood experiences, more dependents and greater food insecurity. Our results have important implications for policy and practice, indicating the need for tailored mental health and social support interventions that consider women, children and adolescents, and food insecure people as key populations in need of assistance, and at risk of being exposed to irregular migration-associated risks. Our study also points to key targets for intervention and policies to protect mental and brain health in the region. This study shows how brain health can be affected in the growing migratory context of the Americas. Our approach addresses mental health as a proxy of brain health to describe how migration and individual differences impact pre-departure migrants and deported Colombians.