Depression, anxiety, and stress among domestic migrants during COVID-19 pandemic in Hyderabad

Context: In the current pandemic, migrants face specific stressors like separation from family, un-sanitized housing, overcrowded conditions, financial instability resulting in poor coping strategies and making them more prone to mental illness. It is crucial to address their psychological needs and contribute to the literature. Aim: The study was done to assess depression, anxiety, and stress in domestic migrants along with domestic migration stress and COVID 19-related anxiety. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in Hyderabad, Telangana among 70 individuals who have migrated from their home states, chosen after obtaining informed consent. Domestic migration stress questionnaire to evaluate migration stress, depression anxiety stress scale-21 to evaluate depression, anxiety and stress, and the corona anxiety scale to evaluate anxiety-related to pandemic were used. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for the Social Science Version 25.0. Results: The study population was screened and was found to experience symptoms of severe depression (mean 21.43), severe anxiety (mean = 16.80), and moderate stress (20.43). They had considerable domestic migration stress (mean = 41.03) and COVID related anxiety (mean = 9.78). Domestic migration stress and COVID anxiety together had significantly impact on depression, anxiety, and stress. COVID anxiety alone affected depression and anxiety significantly. Domestic migration stress alone when analyzed had impact on the stress experienced. Conclusion: Depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among the domestic migrant population are very prevalent currently. The mental health of migrants should be made a priority and active awareness programs and screening should be done. Further large-scale studies with adequate funding from the government and appreciable concern from the mental healthcare providers should be done.