Multiple Traumas, Health Problems and Resilience among Haitian Asylum Seekers in Canada’s 2017 Migration Crisis: Psychopathology of Crossing.

In summer 2017, thousands of Haitian asylum seekers entered Canada irregularly after taking “The Road”, meaning a 11,000- kilometer pathway from Brazil to the U.S., often on foot and under difficult circumstances. This qualitative study examines how this pathway and associated multiple traumas (precariousness, imprisonment, injuries, sexual assault, etc.) impact their mental health. The findings showed that significant traumatic consequences (PTSD, anxiety, depression, deteriorating physical health) and risk of deportation contribute to the development of a “Psychopathology of Crossing”. This study also highlights how meaningful social relationships, the quality of health, and social services contribute to the construction of resilience.