Abstract

Aims: Analyze the relationship between discrimination and the risk of depression in the Haitian population in Chile. Methods: Mixed sequential-explanatory design. A survey was administered to 207 participants, with sociodemographic questions, migration plans and experiences, consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, risk of depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies Scale CESD-R-20), and proxy questions to evaluate discrimination (part of the Detroit Discrimination Questionnaire). Descriptive analyses and a multivariate logistic model were performed. Subsequently, 16 in-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed from an inductive thematic approach. Results: Attempting to move to another neighborhood and not being able to do so is independently associated with the risk of depression. Being a woman with children living outside Chile reduces the risk of depression. Facing adverse life events such as living in irregular settlements, together with restrictive migration policies, and the daily experiences and perceptions of discrimination of this population are associated with symptoms of depression. Conclusions: From a mixed analysis, it was identified that the perceptions and experiences of racism at the institutional and interpersonal level (discrimination) of Haitians in Chile are associated with the risk of depression. These findings can inform future research on the mental health of migrant-racialized populations.