Improving Access to Mental Health Services Among Black Youth in Hamilton, Ontario

Dear Community Members, Partners and Colleagues,

The scoping review Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Mental Healthcare in Canada for Black Youth: A Scoping Review (2020) compiled data from previous studies and discovered that Black youth often wait a disproportionately long 16 months to receive mental health care. The evaluation also highlighted the demand for more studies on Black youth’s experiences with mental illness, the obstacles they face in receiving care, and the best ways to support Black youth with anxiety, depression, and addictions.

Dr. Ingrid Waldron (Professor and HOPE Chair in Peace and Health, Global Peace and Social Justice Program, Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, McMaster University), together

with her team are conducting a study to address these and other concerns. The study, entitled

Improving Access to Mental Health Services Among Black Youth in Hamilton, Ontario builds upon the growing literature on the experiences of Black youth with mentalhealth issues and their access to mental health services in Canada.

Please find attached the final study report and an Infographic that summarizes the key themes and findings from our study.

The goal of the study is to improve the mental health and well-being of Black youth in Hamilton, as well as their access to mental health services and other supports by using the study data to inform mental health policy, services and programs in Hamilton.

The study addresses a significant gap in the literature on the experiences of mental illness and help-seeking among Black youth in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Emphasis is placed on highlighting their stories of unique challenges, experiences, and perspectives related to mental health issues, including how several factors shape their experiences with mental illness and help-seeking, such as race, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, citizenship status, and other social factors.

The objectives of the study were:

• To identify if and how discrimination impacts the mental health of Black youth in Hamilton.
• To examine Black youth’s perceptions and beliefs about mental health issues and help-seeking.
• To learn about Black youth’s experiences accessing mental health services and other

mental health initiatives.

• To explore the factors that need to be considered in improving Black youths’ access to

mental health services and other mental health initiatives.

Our next steps include:

• Delivering presentations at community events.
• Meeting with mental health policymakers in Hamilton.
• Meeting with mental health service providers in Hamilton.
• Delivering presentations at conferences and other academic events
• Writing articles for publications in academic journals.

We hope you enjoy the report and welcome your comments and suggestions on the next steps we can take to address gaps in mental health policy, services and programs in Hamilton for improving Black youth’s mental health and well-being and their access to mental health services and other supports.

Thanks,

Ingrid