Fear accompanies every step of those forced to migrate. Along the Latin American migration corridor, fear is not only a consequence of forced displacement but also a systematically used tool to oppress, discriminate against, and violate people on the move. From Central America to Mexico’s northern border, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has witnessed firsthand how fear—of abuse, extortion, eviction, detention, or simply of not being heard—shapes every decision and profoundly affects the physical and mental health of those seeking protection.

This communications package is grounded in the mental health work MSF provides to migrants, centering on the MhGAP intervention approach, which enables the detection, treatment, and support of common and severe mental health disorders in highly vulnerable contexts. Fear, as a transversal emotion, is also a symptom of trauma, lived violence, and the inhumane conditions thousands of people face during migration.

Through testimonies collected in Ciudad Juárez, Reynosa, Mexico City, Tapachula, and Tecún Umán, this initiative documents how fear has become an invisible barrier that prevents access to rights and perpetuates exclusion. The voices of people on the move, alongside MSF’s mental health specialists, illustrate how these experiences reflect the psychosocial impact of restrictive migration policies and multiple forms of violence against women, children, LGBTIQ+ individuals, and entire families.

The package includes an illustrated and animated poem, an article/press release, and a series of first-person testimonies. These tools aim to raise awareness and advocate for comprehensive humanitarian responses that recognize mental health as an essential component of the right to a dignified life—one free from fear.