Immigrants continue to be among the most vulnerable members of society, often facing xenophobia, discrimination, poor living, housing, and working conditions, and inadequate access to health services. In addition, the high-risk situation that they are exposed to when seeking to enter another country triggers physical and emotional problems before, during, and after the journey to achieve their dreams and improve their living conditions. Renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow long ago asserted that mental and emotional well-being includes the search for individual needs that generate self-realization and self-renewal. Neglecting these needs may lead to emotional and behavioral changes.

Main Problems Faced

In the United States, approximately 14.5 percent of migrants have been found to have post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideals, and other mental health conditions. Once their decision to emigrate has been made, they face a journey marked by many dangers, which can result in physical, cognitive, and emotional disturbances, including the separation from family, and the social and cultural environment. At the beginning, many migrants will stop feeling, they will stop being, and they will only act in response to the situations they encounter.

In general, the Hispanic community has a different way of understanding or treating mental health, marked by many stigmas and myths, often becoming a taboo subject. Unfortunately, another problem they can face for this community is the difficulty of expressing emotions, much more marked in men than women. It is crucial to notice and take action in response to the following signs and symptoms:

• Feelings of fear, anxiety, tension and nervousness, restlessness or irritability, and expecting the worst, physically experiencing a strong heartbeat, difficulty breathing, tremors, muscle contractions, upset stomach, fatigue, etc. could point to a depressive episode.
• Lack of concentration, energy, or interest; feelings of low self-esteem, hopelessness, changes in appetite, and changes in sleeping habits can represent signs of anxiety.
• Recurring memories of something traumatic, nightmares, or avoiding certain places or objects that remind you of something, depression, dissociation, being easily startled, nervousness, and outbursts of anger are symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
• The use, abuse and dependence on drugs and substances such as alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, fentanyl, or pharmaceuticals represent signs of possible addiction.

It is important to immediately act as a community if someone is experiencing any of the above signs and symptoms, to prevent further complications. Community support is invaluable. By creating networks, we will be able to lend a hand to those who need it and, in this way, we can all be, feel, and act together to reach our dreams in the new homeland.