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Rhodes College

Publication Date

Fall 2016

Program Name

Morocco: Migration and Transnational Identity

Abstract

Interviews, surveys, and participant observation was used to study the mental health of Sub-Saharan migrants residing in Rabat, Morocco. These data collection methods were used to explore the various experiences migrants had pre-migration, during their migration journey, and post-migration. The migrants portrayed many negative, traumatic, and painful experiences. These experiences have caused a significant amount of pressure on the mental psyche of the migrants, manifesting itself in many physical and psychological problems. One common problem was a sense of disillusionment or lack of control over their bodies and situations. However, many of them do not seek the help of mental health professionals, not because they don’t want to, but because of a lack of access. Instead, they rely on well-practiced coping tools such as focusing on family bonds, turning to religion, and finding distraction thru the Internet and music, to gain agency in their lives. This research is important because it combines the research on traumas migrants face before, during, and after the migration with the tools migrants to cope. Furthermore, the study shines a light on the blatant lack of mental health resources for the Sub-Saharan migrant community in Rabat, Morocco, and why it’s important to increase investment in addressing this community’s needs.

Disciplines

African Studies | Health Policy | International Relations | Mental and Social Health | Other Psychology | Social and Cultural Anthropology

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