The financial pressure and mental toll migrants face supporting loved ones abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic

13 January 2022

Professor Jolanda Jetten from UQ's School of Psychology spoke to ABC News about the financial pressure and mental toll migrants face supporting loved ones abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Professor Jetten said the psychological pressures were a side effect that was often connected to survivor guilt, particularly for those who had migrated from unstable or war-torn countries.

"In western countries, [supporting other family members is] much less of an issue — we just look after ourselves and our immediate family," she said.

"If you're [one of] the only survivors of terrible accidents … it feels unfair that you've been given an opportunity that many others in your country may also need."

Professor Jetten said there were also mental pressures for migrants that were linked to being absent from their countries of origin.

"This idea of not being able to go back, having lost an important part of yourself really and still having daily reminders is associated with guilt of not being able to do more." 

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