How the mental health of queer migrants who have fled Russia and Belarus works. A psychologist explains

Clinical and social psychologist Yegor Burtsev as part of the Doberman.media podcast series “Health and Rights: A Media Series on the Well-Being of LGBTI People, the Community, and the Right to Health in the Context of Migration” He spoke about the mental health of queer migrants from Russia and Belarus, why trauma doesn't disappear after crossing the border, and how to find inner resilience.

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Project “Health and Rights: A Media Series on the Well-Being of LGBTI People, the Community, and the Right to Health in the Context of Migration” is dedicated to the health and rights of LGBTI people who face challenges when moving to other countries. In this series, we discuss access to medical care, HIV prevention, mental well-being, and discrimination in the healthcare system, as well as how migration affects quality of life and a sense of safety within the community.

A Necessary Step: Fleeing for the Sake of Identity

The lives of queer migrants in countries of origin, such as Russia and Belarus, unfold in an atmosphere of fear and threats, as well as in an atmosphere of cancellation.

For many queer people, the only option is to be forced to move, not only for their personal safety, but also "for the right to be oneself". People are forced to leave their countries precisely because of their identity, which is a distinctive feature of their migration experience.

The move begins with feelings of loss and saying goodbye to home. Back home, they leave behind friends, family, their familiar surroundings, and—most importantly—their familiar, often insular and close-knit queer community. The loss of this community becomes the primary source of emotional distress for queer migrants.

External Freedom Versus Internal Discord

A paradoxical situation often arises in migration: External freedom clashes with internal discord.

Queer migrants, especially in the early years, experience high levels of anxiety, feelings of loneliness, and intense guilt. Their guilt may stem from the fact that they left their family and loved ones behind or ended certain relationships.

The main challenges one faces in a new country:

• Language barrier
• Cultural Differences
• The New Bureaucracy

At the same time, transgender people "It's twice as hard", since bureaucratic procedures often require the presentation of documents and proof of identity.

Gradually, the realization sets in that Psychological trauma does not disappear just because you cross a border. People who find themselves in what is supposedly a safe area do not feel the sense of security they had expected. There is a contrast between the outward calm they see in their new country and internal instability. The migrant experience is compounded by the feeling that "You're a stranger here.".

The Trauma Won't Let Go: Paranoia and Flashbacks

The effects of past threats and persecution may manifest themselves in the form of post-traumatic flashbacks.

Symptoms experienced by queer migrants:

• Fear of large crowds or noise.
• Distrust and paranoia, “the feeling that you’re being watched.”
• Concerns about communication on social media.
• An inability to believe that one is safe and free from persecution.

Queer people may feel that their memory "permanently damaged", and that "A person's longing for home will never leave them". Recovery through therapy and community takes a significant amount of time.

The Turning Point: The Role of Community and Support

The turning point comes when a person finds community — meets with other queer migrants from his or her home country. In the initial stage, communication often takes place in "internal bubble" (money) with those who share a common cultural background.

However, over time, migrants realize that this inner circle is not enough. They begin to step outside this bubble, interact with people from other countries, practice the language, and gradually build new connections.

An Important Resource for Recovery — reaching out to local queer groups and organizations. People within these organizations are generally supportive, understand the specific challenges of migrant crises, and can provide assistance, including, referring them to "friendly" specialists. The experience of such support and understanding becomes a valuable resource.

People who provide assistance are those who choose to do so of their own accord; it is a whole process of care that takes place for both parties under fairly comfortable conditions.

Accepting help is a process that migrants often don’t learn right away. However, this skill helps reduce the stress that arises in the early days after moving.

From Adaptation to “Quiet Hope”

The most positive scenario is accepting a new reality.

Adjustment Period, during which people discover new things, look for friends and partners, and build a new community (if the person was an activist), may take three to five years.

After the adjustment period, the following begins: The Path to Inner Stability. Queer migrants get back on their feet and start moving toward their true selves in this new life.

The end result is the appearance of "Quiet Hope" — the possibility of living without fear. At the same time, memories of the past are preserved and become part of their self-identity. These memories can help them cope with the challenges of migration or continue to work remotely on issues that still exist in their home countries, but now from a safe space.