Addressing Migration Stigma in Latin America Using Mental Health Registry-Based Data

Latin America is experiencing unprecedented migration, with millions, including many political refugees, moving within and across the region. This mass migration carries significant mental health implications due to multi-level stressors, including migration-related stigma.

Migration Stigma, in which migrants are labeled as dangerous, criminal, or "other," drives discrimination and creates structural barriers to mental healthcare, particularly for people with psychosis. This stigma intensifies with intersectionality-factors like ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status contribute to greater delays and risk. Although research on migration and psychosis exists-Latin America remains understudied. Population-based registries like Chile's national registries and Brazil's 100 Million Cohort offer tools to quantify inequities, identify intervention points, and evaluate policies. Such data can illuminate how stigma and systemic barriers affect care for migrants with psychosis.

Integrating registry-based data with anti-stigma strategies and inclusive health policies is critical to ensuring equitable early psychosis care for Latin American migrants.