Presentation Information
[SY-11-02]Re-imagining covid through the lens of migrant [1] youth. a photo-voice project on the impact on mental health, resilience, and participation
[1] In the present investigation, the term "migrant" adheres to the definition established by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which includes refugees and asylum seekers, and any “people who leave or flee their usual place of residence in search of safety or better opportunities abroad, and who may be in distress and in need of protection or humanitarian assistance (ICCRC).
*Hans Rohlof1, Ernesto Gomez Cángas2, Geertrui Serneels2, Benji Jame2 (1.Private Practice Rohlof(Netherlands), 2.Solentra(Belgium))
Keywords:
Migrants,Covid 19,Photovoice
Reports on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic show young migrants among the most vulnerable groups. The aim of the project was to explore young migrants' experiences and perceptions of the Covid pandemic, the impact on their mental health, ways of coping, as well as their participation in decision-making. To do this, we used photovoice, a visual participatory research method recognised for promoting youth participation. Twenty-nine young migrants aged 15-24 were asked to photograph their experiences, perceptions, emotions, activities, memories, meanings or any other aspect that might represent how they coped with the pandemic. Seventy photographs and captions were grouped into nine themes for the exhibition. Participants' narratives show that they experienced a perceived worsening of their mental health, with greater impact on those in insecure residence and those with no family ties in the country. We also identified how resilience was a capacity that contributed significantly to reducing the impact of the pandemic despite their vulnerability. Young migrants could not identify any degree of participation in decision-making at any level. Based on our findings, and together with the participants, we elaborated 4 calls to action that can be useful in decision making regarding the necessary preparedness to face possible future crises, as well as to continue contributing to the necessary cultural integration of society: 1) Participation in decision-making, 2) Protection of resilient resources, 3) Tailoring mental health services, and 4) Helping to raise intercultural awareness. At the time of writing, the travelling exhibition has continued its presentation in different venues, and outreach efforts are still ongoing.