Trauma & (forced) migration—a global issue
Forced migration and trauma are deeply intertwined and have become defining issues of our time. Over 60 million people worldwide are currently displaced—an unprecedented number, even exceeding those during World War II. Wars, political oppression, and economic collapse have driven countless individuals to undertake perilous journeys across continents or within their regions, such as Africa and South America.
The trauma experienced by migrants is profound and multi-layered. Many endure violence, human trafficking, family separation, and loss during journeys spanning hundreds or thousands of miles. These experiences are often compounded when they face rejection at borders, confinement in overcrowded detention camps, and exposure to further danger. Even upon arrival, refugees must contend with profound insecurity, racism, and ongoing psychological distress.
For migrants, trauma is not confined to a single event but unfolds across every stage—departure, transit, and arrival—leaving deep psychological scars that require care, understanding, and support.
What can psychoanalysis do to help?
Migrants and refugees often suffer from mental health problems, having experienced crises caused by dislocation from their homes, with a loss of all that is familiar and their sense of belonging. This may lead to identity issues, especially in younger people.
All sequences of migration are potentially traumatic and harbor specific risks, but the constantly recurring theme is a loss of the containing object—the “home”. If these crises remain untreated, the traumatic experiences may lead to chronic psychological symptoms or illnesses such as depression, anxiety or PTSD.
The crisis of migration may result in personal catastrophe, or creative inner development, with enrichment of the personality—and their new homes. On the one hand people experience sadness, anxiety, nostalgia and severe pain of loss; on the other they carry hope and expectation. They brought enthusiasm, commitment, dedication, and worked hard with hopes of success in their new homelands.
Our Mission
As part of our mandate at the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA) and the Humanitarian Organizations Committee, we aim to collect and share data on psychoanalytic work in the humanitarian field worldwide. Our goal is to foster connections between psychoanalysts and humanitarian organizations, building networks that encourage the exchange of experiences both within and beyond the IPA. By strengthening these collaborations, we hope to inspire mutual learning and stimulate innovative approaches to address trauma and forced migration.
Promoting psychoanalytic research on trauma and migration is a key part of our efforts. Psychoanalysis—as a science of the unconscious—offers a unique conceptual and clinical contribution to understanding the profound, short- and long-term consequences of these experiences. This is especially true given that the psychoanalytic community itself shares a history of migration and exile.
To support this initiative, we are creating an online database that highlights psychoanalytic work in the humanitarian field. This resource will provide a quick, accessible overview while encouraging deeper exploration. We invite you to contribute by submitting short summaries or abstracts of your work that showcase your experiences and insights. We aim to build a rich, multifaceted collection that reflects the diversity and impact of psychoanalytic contributions in this critical area—and we need your help to make it happen!”
Share Your Work—Contribute to the IPA Humanitarian Database
We invite you to be part of a global initiative to highlight the invaluable contributions of psychoanalysis to the humanitarian field.