Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

This study focuses on older immigrants in Canada (individuals ages 55 and older born outside of Canada). Older immigrants comprise almost one-third of Canada's older adult population, yet existing mental health services (such as therapy from a psychologist) do not reflect older immigrants' unique needs for mental health support. For example, research suggests that immigration-specific factors, particularly the loss of social support upon arrival to a new country, negatively impact mental health but are not addressed in existing treatments. Furthermore, providing mental health services in community organizations (rather than clinics or hospitals) may be more suitable for older immigrants because these organizations facilitate connections to other immigration-related supports. Therefore, older immigrants may benefit from participating in CONNECT: a six-week group therapy program for older adults that reduces social isolation, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Weekly sessions are offered over the telephone and run in partnership with community organizations. However, further research is needed to establish this. Thus, the goals of this study are to (1) explore older immigrants' needs for mental health and social support, (2) adapt CONNECT to address their needs by collaborating with older immigrants and organizations serving older immigrants, and (3) conduct a preliminary evaluation of the program to understand whether it is feasible and beneficial. This study will address a significant gap in mental healthcare for older immigrants by identifying their unmet needs for mental health and social support and establishing a targeted support program. The pilot evaluation will inform future refinements and larger studies to establish the effectiveness of the program. Ultimately, this targeted intervention will benefit the mental health of older immigrants across Canada.