Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

According to the 2024 Lancet Commission for Youth Mental Health, for over two decades, mental health services for individuals aged 12-24 have not met the expected standards for access or outcomes. Only 25-30% of young people with mental health and substance use (MHSU) concerns manage to access timely treatment, which can result in decreased well-being and negatively affect crucial developmental stages. South Asian youth in Canada face significant obstacles in accessing MHSU care. The issue is not a lack of preventive and treatment programs for MHSU disorders but rather the absence of programs tailored to the distinct cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic factors affecting South Asian youth and their families. To address this gap, my research will explore how culturally sensitive strategies can enhance mental health service accessibility for South Asian youth in British Columbia. The study will begin by establishing a provincial Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) comprised of South Asian youth from various regions to provide continuous feedback and collaboratively develop solutions. A scoping review will then be conducted to identify best practices for improving service access. Following this, community co-design workshops will be held in Surrey, Prince George, Abbotsford, and Kelowna, where youth, caregivers, and service providers will work together to create and refine solutions tailored to the specific needs of South Asian youth. Finally, these solutions will be piloted in local settings to assess their effectiveness and scalability across the province. This study will provide valuable insights into the health needs of South Asian youth, enhancing the understanding of their needs. The findings will help shape healthcare services, inform future engagement with youth and families, guide evaluations, and influence policies, ultimately improving the well-being of South Asian youth in British Columbia.