Toronto resident Rostam, a pseudonym for a participant in a research study, no longer sleeps through the night. He checks the news constantly, piecing together the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. His parents call from Tehran, but the connection is unreliable, and he fears the next call may not come for days.
Rostam's experience is not unique. Many workers across Canada, including those from the Iranian, Ukrainian, Palestinian, Sudanese, Afghan, and Syrian communities, are navigating similar terrain.
A 2025 study found higher rates of severe depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder among diaspora Tigrayans in Australia than among people inside the war zone itself.
Researchers propose a new framework: diaspora distress, a psychological burden carried by people living in one country while their homeland is under active geopolitical threat.
Diaspora distress is not just grief; it's a unique condition that lacks a comparable ritual. It's often compounded by the policies or rhetoric of the host country's government.
Organisations can develop the capacity to recognise diaspora distress by using language, acknowledging the weight some employees are carrying. This can take three forms: a leadership message, a manager check-in prompt, or an addition to employee assistance programmes.
