Abstract OP 18: Mental Health 1, B304 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 13:30 - 14:30 Background

While there is significant literature on migration journeys, the focus is often economic or political, while mental health (MH) along these corridors is less explored. There is increasing awareness of the need to address MH issues. This review aimed to explore the MH of South Asian migrants to the UK and Gulf Countries (GCC) at all stages of their migration journey and what interventions exist to support their needs.
Methods

Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic scoping review was conducted across EMBASE, PsycInfo, Cochrane, PubMed, and Web of Science for empirical papers discussing the MH of South Asian migrants (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan) to the UK or GCC (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain).
Results

From 11868 records retrieved, 28 studies met the inclusion criteria; over a third of these were published pre-2005 (n = 11). MH vulnerabilities among South Asian migrants were consistently high, with reported prevalence of depression and anxiety. Challenges varied by ethnicity and gender, with differences seen in condition prevalence, symptom presentation, reporting, and referrals. Context-specific challenges emerged: Gulf-based studies (n = 10) highlighted employment-related stressors such as long hours, low pay, unsafe conditions, and workplace abuse, while UK-based studies (n = 18) focused on community belonging, cultural adaptation, and disparities in service use. Among children, a longer duration of stay was linked to reduced vulnerabilities. Importantly, no tailored MH interventions for migrants were identified in either the UK or the Gulf States.
Conclusion

South Asian migrants face distinct and intersecting MH risks across the migration journey, yet lack tailored interventions in both the UK and GCC. Addressing these challenges requires co-designed, culturally-adapted interventions that span the life course and account for gender, ethnicity, and context. A shift from documenting vulnerabilities to implementing actionable, inclusive care strategies is urgently needed.