Internal forced displacement and mental health in Colombian indigenous peoples. The Emberá case in Bogotá: Forced displacement and indigenous mental health

Abstract

Background: Provided that internal displacement of Colombian indigenous peoples keeps increasing, it is ne-cessary to continue studying the impact this phenomenon may have on these individuals’ mental health. Objective: To elucidate the different associations between mental health and internal displacement due to ar-med conflict in indigenous people in Colombia, focusing on the Emberá people. Methodology: A qualitative study based on complex thinking was conducted in several phases, which can be classified in two: 1) A litera-ture review on internal displacement and mental health in indigenous people, and 2) A field work conducted with internally displaced Emberá people living in Bogotá and experts on this topic (this phase included indepth interviews, focal groups and participant observation). Results: Armed conflict in Colombia has forced indigenous people to abandon their rural environment and move to urban settings, and thus their way of life is affected. In indigenous population groups, the family and the community are the social institutions most affec-ted by this phenomenon, for the integration of the group and the group itself are endangered as the dynamic relationships among its members are transformed and reorganized to face a new reality. Conclusions: Armed conflict in Colombia has a negative impact in indigenous peoples by making them abandon their ancestral territories and transform or even lose their culture, which are two aspects exerting a great influence on their mental health.