The Planning Unit within the Studies and Planning Division of the Urban and Regional Planning Center for Postgraduate Studies—represented by Unit Head and Assistant Lecturer Noor Aref—hosted a lecture titled “Illegal Migration and the Crisis of Belonging Among Youth: Causes and Remedies from a Psychological Perspective.” The lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Siham Mutashar Al-Kaabi, a faculty member at the University of Baghdad’s Continuing Education Center, and was attended by a number of the Center’s academic and administrative staff.
The lecture aimed to examine the psychological and social roots of illegal migration—a phenomenon involving the risk of life in pursuit of an uncertain future. It highlighted that this issue is not merely linked to economic conditions but stems from a profound crisis regarding national belonging, as well as feelings of marginalization and internal alienation among young people.
Dr. Al-Kaabi explained that psychological factors play a significant role in driving migration behavior. Field studies indicate that young people aspiring to migrate suffer from higher levels of general anxiety and depression compared to their peers; this drives them to adopt idealized, fanciful perceptions of destination countries, viewing them as the sole solution for self-actualization. The lecture highlighted that irregular migrants face “double alienation”—a simultaneous sense of rejection by both the host society and their culture of origin. Furthermore, they endure psychological and physical trauma, as well as chronic disorders such as anxiety and depression, resulting from the perils of the journey and the constant threat of deportation. The study went beyond merely diagnosing the causes and the individual, security, and economic repercussions; it also proposed a remedial and preventive approach focused on rebuilding the psychological confidence of young people and fostering a sense of national belonging.
Key recommendations emerging from the lecture emphasized the need to establish mental health centers dedicated to supporting both returnees and youth at risk of irregular migration. It also called for educational and psychological awareness programs within schools to highlight the dangers of irregular migration and challenge prevailing stereotypes, while simultaneously providing genuine avenues for self-expression and active participation in local decision-making. Finally, the lecture underscored the importance of mobilizing families and community institutions to instill values of belonging and to cultivate a secure psychological environment within the homeland.
