ARIZONA-On their way to the place where they are supposed to find a better life, thousands of immigrant families face a battle sometimes silent and sometimes unknown. In the absence of legal documents or an uncertain future, they suffer major physical and mental health conditions, according to experts.
This is the portrait of symptoms that dominate the daily life and mental health of an immigrant community.
” I arrived very young, without language, without family, without anything…”, says Yuleni Caiceros who left his native Veracruz more than 18 years ago, carrying with him only the illusion of a better life.
Since her arrival, 35-year-old Caiceros has dedicated her life to working to get ahead with her husband and 2 children, but as miles never imagined that far from a better life, she would find rejection.
Despite the time, Yuleni has not been able to regularize her immigration status, so access to basic social and health services is limited.
Stress and depression
For psychiatric doctor Frank Moreno, migrants have levels of stress, depression associated with their condition that also reflect other social factors.
Conditions that the expert assures, are conducive to developing other types of health problems.
“Headaches, ulcers, high blood pressure, problems regulating sugar, all chronic diseases are complicated by stress.”