Life “Under the Wire”: Perceived Discrimination and Mental Health of Haitian Migrants in the Dominican Republic

Sylvie had left Haiti a decade ago, when she was 18 and pregnant with her first child. Her boyfriend had been beating her, and her mother decided that the best thing for her was to move to the neighboring Dominican Republic. Sylvie's accounts must be contextualized within the sociocultural history of Haitian migration to the Dominican Republic, a history that has involved dynamic reconceptualizations of racial, cultural, and national identities. Poverty and social discrimination in combination reinforce each other and together are a major threat to mental health. Discrimination is widely recognized as a social determinant of health because it systematically disadvantages certain groups. The sociocultural context of Haitian migrants contributes to the increased need for physical and mental health services. As Sylvie's account illustrated, anti-Haitian discrimination occurs at an interpersonal level among community members. Poor social integration and lack of social support within communities increase risk for common mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.