ABSTRACT
Objectives: The objectives are to describe cultural factors pertinent to working with migrant youth, recognize the diversity of ethnicities and languages in this population, and review children's narratives of trauma and resilience. Treatment experiences will be described. Method(s): Significant differences exist between the cultures of Central American countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, and between subpopulations within Mexico. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), in 2015 there were 11.3 million Indigenous inhabitants in Mexico alone with 364 linguistic variations. A team interviewed 76 children, ages 8 to 12 years, at Tapachula (port of entry from Guatemala to Mexico), and Ciudad Juarez (port of entry from Mexico to the United States). In their own voices, children provided narratives of their experiences on the journey. A treatment team in El Paso studied 50 migrant children living in shelters between 2016 and 2019, looking at reasons for referral, diagnoses, medications, psychotherapy, and motivations for leaving the home country. Result(s): In 2019, there were 52,000 children who migrated toward the United States, and more than 30,000 were under the age of 11 years. This number increased 9-fold with the COVID-19 pandemic. Their narratives, incorporating legends and family stories, reflect the types of adversity they faced, including poverty, violence, corruption, environmental calamities, hunger, and death of loved ones. But they also reflect factors of resilience such as family, culture, faith, and will. Treatment of children in shelters revealed many reasons for referral, numerous psychiatric diagnoses, and stressors prior to migration, during the trip and upon arrival. Cultural factors such as commitment to family, community, and faith have been found to mitigate traumatic experiences. For many, finding strength through adversity gives meaning to their struggle. Conclusion(s): Great diversity and significant cultural and linguistic differences exist between countries and groups of Indigenous peoples within Latin America. Migrant children often suffer serial traumas during all phases of the journey. Treatment involves many diagnoses, medications, and psychotherapies. However, cultural factors contribute to resilience in this population. DEI, PTSD, EBP Copyright © 2022