Shaping Transit - Perceptions of migration transit, identity (trans)formation and the impact on mental health of unaccompanied migrant youth in Mexico

Aug 24, 2026

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Mexico functions as a country of origin, transit, and destination for migrants seeking to reach the US, with a marked rise in unaccompanied minors from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. These youths experience violence and heightened migration risks, face repeated deportations and long waiting periods, and often lack access to education and health services, contributing to substance abuse, depression, and anxiety. Fieldwork in 2021 combined ethnographic and visual qualitative interviews with youths and service workers to analyze identity and resilience. Extremely restricted freedom limits identity building; resilience overlaps with resistance and is sustained through cultural narratives of faith, hope, and goal achievement. Discriminatory regional migration policies impede rights access, while professionals—especially in healthcare—can advocate, requiring skills such as empathy, adaptation, and recognition of children as rights-holders.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages235

Reading Time9 h 52 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Context and health impacts

Methods and fieldwork

Findings on identity and resilience

Policy barriers and professional roles

Implications for skills and rights

LONDON’S GLOBAL UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH Shaping Transit Perceptions of migration transit, identity (trans)formation and the impact on mental health of unaccompanied migrant youth in Mexico Dr Susanna Corona Maioli Thesis submitted to University College London (UCL) for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 29th May 2023 Word count = 84, 684 (excluding tables, figures, appendices) Declaration page I, Susanna Corona Maioli, confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been indicated in the thesis. Dr Susanna Corona Maioli 29 May 2023 The copyright of this thesis rests with the author and no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without the prior written consent of the author. Abstract Mexico is a country of origin, transit and destination for migrants attempting to reach the US. In the last decade, there has been an increase in underage migrants travelling without parents from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, due to an increase in violence and natural disasters. They are often victims of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, as well as being more exposed to migration risks such as trafficking and exploitation compared to adults. Their migration process involves multiple deportations and long waiting times without appropriate access to education or health services. These conditions can lead to adverse health effects such as substance abuse, depression and anxiety. In June and July 2021, I visited two migrant shelters in Mexico City and Guadalajara. Using ethnographic and visual qualitative methods to conduct interviews with unaccompanied migrant youth and with workers in services for these youth, I explored the psychosocial mental health constructs of identity and resilience. I found that in this context of extremely restricted freedom , possibilities for identity building are restricted. Resilience overlaps with resistance but is generally maintained with cultural narratives of goal achievement, faith and hope. Crucial formative years are lost, pushing many to aspire only to work – regardless of the type of work. Strong responsibility towards sending remittances to family contribute to this, making family one of the main sources of resilience as it represents a goal of the migration journey. The prevailing regional migration management, underlined by discriminatory policies which place profit and national security ideology before a recognition of common humanity, is a considerable barrier to advancing access to rights for these youth. However, professionals – including healthcare professionals – have a leading role in advocating against this. Specific skills were identified for professionals who work with this population, such as empathy, adaptation and recognition of children as rights-holders. México es un país de origen, tránsito y destino para migrantes que viajan a Estados Unidos. En la última década, ha habido un aumento de migrantes menores de edad viajando sin sus padres; originarios sobretodo de Guatemala, Honduras y El Salvador. En México, esta población está más expuesta a riesgos de la migración como la trata en comparación con adultos. Además, son frecuentemente víctimas de violencia, incluyendo sexual. Su proceso migratorio implica múltiples deportaciones y largos tiempos de espera sin debido acceso a servicios de educación o salud. Estas condiciones conllevan efectos adversos a la salud como el abuso de sustancias, depresióny ansiedad. En junio y julio 2021, visité dos albergues para migrantes en Ciudad de México y Guadalajara. Utilicé métodos etnográficos y cualitativos-visuales para realizar entrevistas con juventud migrante no acompañada y con trabajadores en servicios para esta población. Exploré aspectos psicosociales de la salud mental: identidad y resiliencia. Encontré que, en este contextode libertad extremadamente restring

FAQs

What population and migration route does the thesis focus on?

The thesis focuses on unaccompanied migrant youth in Mexico who are traveling from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador toward the US, describing Mexico as a country of origin, transit, and destination.

How does the research investigate mental health?

It uses ethnographic and visual qualitative methods, conducting interviews with unaccompanied migrant youth and workers in services for these youths to explore psychosocial constructs of identity and resilience.

What key barriers affect access to rights for unaccompanied migrant youth?

Discriminatory regional migration management prioritizes profit and national security ideology over recognition of shared humanity, creating a major barrier to advancing these youths’ access to rights.

Aug 24, 2026

Upload by Tawan