Alexander López, clinical and social psychologist, talked about the results of the study under the title of Duelo migratorio, estrategias de afrontamiento y malestar psicológico (Migratory grief, coping strategies and psychological distress) in which 502 migrants, applicants for international protection and refugees from 66 countries participated. Alexander López is a resident of the Principal Peset Hall of Residence, a clinical and social psychologist with academic and professional experience in Spain, Guatemala, India, Mexico and Colombia.

The mental health of people in movement is a secondary aspect when assessing the migration situation and its effects in Spain. Most of the entities that function as preliminary reception centres take into account the needs of legal administration, survival and accompaniment in the process of arrival and integration. Nevertheless, these organisations, as well as the migrants themselves, may be unaware of the global and specific reality of mental health and the most priority cognitive and emotional needs of these groups that need to be addressed in order to facilitate a better process of integration into the country. 

This study aims to provide an approximation to the assessment of the mental health situation of migrants and refugees in our state.