Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Previous research suggests that youth from several racial and ethnic minority groups in Canada report higher levels of mental health symptoms but receive fewer diagnoses and less treatment. This inequity may reflect barriers to accessing care, but the underlying drivers remain poorly understood. Although evidence from Canada is growing, important gaps remain in our understanding of racial and ethnic disparities in youth mental health. This project will use population-level administrative health records linked with self-reported survey data from youth in British Columbia to measure disparities more precisely, examine their causes, and identify actionable factors to reduce them. The work will take place in three phases. First, we will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing studies in Canada to generate disaggregated estimates of youth mental health diagnoses by race and ethnicity. Second, we will link a school-based survey of children's developmental health and well-being with administrative health data to test whether differences in diagnosis rates are explained by better self-reported mental health or by reduced access to care. Using administrative data, which are less vulnerable to reporting bias, linked to survey measures will allow us to account for differences in underlying mental health needs. Third, we will investigate how structural factors such as systemic racism, immigration status, poverty and food insecurity contribute to disparities. Much of disparity research has solely relied on deficit-based approaches that emphasize risks. In this project, we will also identify protective and modifiable factors such as strong school connections and supportive relationships that can buffer adversity and promote health in minoritized youth. By identifying both the structural drivers of inequities and the factors that mitigate them, this research will inform policies and programs that promote equitable access to mental health care.