Caring for Mental Health Is Also Protection

The World Health Organization (WHO) dedicates October 10 to raising awareness of the importance of mental health and the needs surrounding it. When mental health is discussed, institutions often focus on its absence or on mental health conditions. For example, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) highlights that “more than a billion people live with a mental health condition”. However, mental health is also about promoting and sustaining states of well-being. In general, health systems do not adequately address this dimension, often focusing care on situations in which a person is already experiencing distress or a mental health condition, while investing less in mental health promotion.

During migration processes, the risks associated with migration routes, difficulties accessing services, uncertainty about immigration status, discrimination, xenophobia, and precarious reception conditions can affect mental well-being and contribute to anxiety, depression, stress, and prolonged distress. The IOM World Migration Report 2026 also notes that, in countries where some form of regularization mechanism has been established, better physical and emotional well-being outcomes have been observed, while lack of documentation can deepen barriers to accessing services and increase uncertainty.

The August 10th, 2026 earthquake in Colombia highlighted how, in disaster contexts, the loss or disruption of close relationships, displacement, precarious living conditions, and difficulties accessing services can intensify psychological impacts and increase the risks of violence, exclusion, and caregiving burdens. As noted by the Observatorio para la Equidad de las Mujeres de la Universidad ICESI y la Fundación WWB Colombia, “displacement, overcrowding, temporary cohabitation with strangers, loss of privacy, economic insecurity, and the disruption of protection networks and services can increase the risks of domestic violence, sexual violence, labor exploitation, and other forms of violence against women and girls” (own translation). These impacts are not distributed equally. Women who were already carrying a disproportionate share of caregiving and domestic responsibilities often face additional responsibilities after an earthquake, leaving them with less time to rest, recover their livelihoods, or participate in community decision-making.

That is why, at Fundación Camino Vital, we promote spaces for respite, dialogue, and the rebuilding of bonds of trust and protection. We advocate for responses that recognize emotional and psychosocial well-being as an integral part of protection and the fulfillment of rights.