A Scoping Review of the Venezuelan Migration in Three South American Countries: Sociocultural and Mental Health Perspectives

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Migrations are among the most complex social phenomena in the history of mankind. In Latin America, the Venezuelan migration (VM) of the last two decades has altered the emotional dynamics of the migrant themselves and the populations of host countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, and Perú. In order to point out strategies of management and prevention, this review examines the sociocultural variables at play during the process, and the main mental health problems faced by the VM protagonists in these three Andean countries. Methods: This is a narrative/scoping review of diverse and reliable information sources about the VM in the three countries. Data are grouped in two sections: sociocultural variables and specific mental health impact. Results: Findings reflect both qualitative and quantitative information about reasons to migrate, educational level, living conditions and response from host communities, as well as mental illnesses prevalence related to experiences such as victimization by discriminatory/xenophobic behaviors, criminalization, and abuses. Conclusions: The impact of the VM has been intense and multiform on both migrant and host populations, unveiling individual, collective, social/community, and government/administrative vulnerabilities. National and international agencies must propitiate collaborative research and public/mental health initiatives for a better management of general and specific aspects of the process.