Mental health and psychosocial counselling for people on the move in South Africa: reflections and experiences

Mental health concerns among people on the move, range from traumatic experiences relating to entering the borders of South Africa, challenges relating to cultural assimilation, discrimination based on their legal status or nationality and separation from family.

Left unprocessed these concerns or experiences could lead to several problems experienced by the migrant population which could include social consequences or mental health disorders. A lack of knowledge of mental health as well as the services available leads to these experiences not being addressed.

This article aims to give feedback on the experiences of providing Mental Health and Psychosocial services to the migrant population, identification of the mental health services available and service delivery gaps that were identified in the process.