Impact of Migratory Experience on Mental Health: A Qualitative Study in Dhaka City

Abstract

The complex relationship between migration and mental health involves aspects at multiple levels, such as the migrant's personal history, the collective history of their place of origin, and the category of climatic events. Recent years have seen a rise in the country of migration. Even though the migratory scenario of the county increased over the last few years. The study describes and analyses the impact of the migratory experience on mental health with different migration experiences and living in Dhaka city slums. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 climate migrant slum dwellers in Dhaka city slums. A thematic qualitative data analysis was performed whereas three themes were created based on the different times of the migration experience: before, after, and during migration. Mental health effected by traumatic events before and during migration. In addition, a great level of psychological distress is associated with post migratory difficulties (e.g., unemployment or facing a new cultural environment). Multidisciplinary interventions, with focus on skill development, such as work-related skills, on access to basic needs, help the well-being of mental health.

Keywords: Climate migrants, Migratory experience, mental health, slum dwellers, Dhaka City.