For the past two decades, we have been living in a new era of human migration: the era of walls, barricades, and fences. Everything suggests that this situation is not a temporary one, but rather a structural reality tied to capitalism (specifically, neo-Manchester capitalism), at least according to Dr. Joseba Achotegui, the creator of the term Ulysses Syndrome.

Those of us who can personally identify as migrants know firsthand what structural vulnerability means. It almost inevitably immerses us in a daily struggle marked by constant challenges and inequality.

In a world where the walls and barriers facing immigrants and their families are becoming higher and more dangerous to cross, it’s essential that we understand what Ulysses Syndrome is. Named after the character in Greek mythology who, despite being the king of Ithaca, becomes a migrant through a long journey—discovering his own resilience along the way and eventually rebuilding his kingdom.

First and foremost, we must clarify that this is not a pathology, but rather a reactive stress condition that can affect migrants. It’s important to emphasize that it is not a mental illness, because perceiving or labeling ourselves as mentally ill can be stigmatizing—not only for us personally, but also for our relationships, our coworkers, and the other social groups we are part of. Many of us have experienced Ulysses Syndrome ourselves.

It occurs in a world where the walls and barriers affecting immigrants and their families continue to grow taller and more dangerous. Migrant intelligence offers a set of emotional, physical, and social strategies to resist and overcome the hardships, stress, and grief that come with leaving one’s homeland. The support of one’s own community is an invaluable resource when facing fear, loneliness, and helplessness.

As a health professional, I would like to share the most effective methods for overcoming adversity and developing a resilient mindset, based on decades of dedicated work assisting immigrants, exiles, and displaced people.

• Family Separation
  Entire families no longer migrate together, as they did in the classic novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck—where the Joads travel together along the iconic Route 66 toward California—or like the families we’ve often seen journeying together in Western films. Today, men, women, and even children migrate—but no longer as a unit. Each new reform in immigration policy only increases the obstacles and difficulties for family reunification. To this, we must add the phenomenon of family un-grouping, where families that had managed, with great effort, to reunite are once again being separated due to economic crises.

• Structural Social Exclusion
  Many immigrants suffer from a complete lack of opportunities.

• Criminalization of Immigrants
  Another form of social violation in the long history of migration—which is, in fact, the history of humanity itself—is the criminalization of immigrants. Never before had migration been considered a crime, like theft, for example. In July 2009, Italy passed the Maroni Law, which classifies migration as a criminal offense in its penal code. Here in the United States, there are countless laws that lean toward this same idea.

The United Nations projects that the number of migrants currently stands at 230 million people and is expected to double in the next 20 years—forming what is now referred to as “the sixth continent,” the mobile continent. This global migration, taking place while the borders of developed countries are practically sealed off like fortresses, forewarns great suffering for millions.

This is the social commitment I want to invite you to turn into awareness. Let us break the stigma. The migrant is not the uneducated, sad, or depressed figure that many host societies perceive. We are citizens of the world, rich in culture and often possessing extensive professional experience. We come to honor our new home through sacrifice and hard work.

Conclusion
Ulysses Syndrome reflects the profound emotional crisis that many immigrants experience when faced with significant barriers during their adaptation to a new society. Effectively addressing this syndrome involves not only psychological support, but also social and economic integration policies that promote the well-being of immigrants. It is essential for society to be aware of this issue and to provide appropriate resources to support those going through this difficult situation.

LET’S COMMIT TO BREAKING THE STIGMAS!!!
—Mariana Manzo