How to migrate and stay Sane?
While migration is scaping from disastrous and difficult situations towards a better life and a more hopeful future, it can also include jeopardising migrants’ mental health. It might include a person deciding to move for various reasons like studying, finding a better job, improving their future, keeping away from political and strict mistreatment or marrying. It can be because of pure necessity or economic and aspirational factors. Not all migrants face the same situations and experience the same difficulties. Still, in the end, migration can be a life-changing experience which leads to temporary or permanent changes in an individual’s mental state. For further details visit Melbourne Psychologist www.jposullivan.com.au
Migration is a series of events before, during and after it happens during a prolonged period in one’s life. The settlement and adjustment depend on one’s character, explanations behind the movement and how the new community will welcome and accept the migrants and let them be part of that society. Interestingly, other factors affecting this process are the similarity and familiarity of the destination language with that of the migrants, the distance, age and gender, educational level and occupational background and family and household status. The longer the distance, the more culture shock and differences can occur. The stressors can come from internal and external sources, but in the end, the individual responses to the stressor determine the likelihood of survival from mental illness. This is the perfect example of when a psychologist can help. Resilience and coping mechanisms after migration can be different for every individual. Not everyone is exposed to the same stresses, and not everyone goes through the mental problem path. Being prepared for migration and premigration levels, social support, and social cohesion can be practical factors in resilience. Personal pre-problems such as low self-esteem and previous insecure attachment can contribute to a bad mental state. Religious rituals and faith can play a significant role for some groups. Fluency in the language and acculturation plus the sense of place and social meaning can help migrants to be able to stay away from any mental problems. Migrants who require a psychotherapist in Melbourne should visit Julian O’Sullivan in Melbourne.