Xenophobia is defined as the rejection, hostility, and even hatred toward foreigners. This is something we can see and hear every day in the streets and in the media as a result of the significant migration flow that the Venezuelan crisis has brought to Peru.

For migrants, leaving behind their families, friends, and everything they have built in their home country to begin a new life in ours is not an easy process. In this context, they have a higher likelihood of developing mental health-related conditions, with depression, anxiety, alcohol consumption, and the use of other substances being among the most common, according to Vanessa Herrera López, psychiatrist from the Executive Directorate of Collective Health of the National Institute of Mental Health “Honorio Delgado – Hideyo Noguchi,” in a recent interview with Diario La República. Furthermore, feelings of fear and rejection can have negative effects not only on their mental health but also on their physical well-being.

“We cannot remain indifferent and exclude others. Putting ourselves in someone else’s place represents a social value such as solidarity, developing social empathy, and considering the common good as part of human development, as well as respecting the universal rights of every individual,” states Herrera López.

Peru also faces challenges related to poverty and unemployment, which may lead some people to express negative emotions and thoughts toward migrants, creating a sense of competition and amplifying difficult situations, thereby increasing social conflicts.

However, it is important to recognize that rejection, discrimination, and prejudice against migrants have negative consequences on their health. It is time to demonstrate our capacity for empathy and extend a helping hand to those who need it the most. Let us remember that these are people who come to Peru seeking refuge from the economic situation and political crisis in their country, not by choice.

#EveryoneForMentalHealth

Source: Diario La República