Impact of Covid-19 on mental health disparities in ethnic minorities

Research indicates that Covid-19 pandemic has intensified the health inequities that ethnic minorities experience. However, little research has been done in Canada. This study will build upon current literature to identify mental health disparity in visible minorities of Canada using longitudinal survey from Canadian Perspective Survey Series (CPSS). This study will then examine the association between ethnic minority status and behavioral factors associated with mental health disparities. Further, this study will explore whether self-reported mental health outcomes are reflected in the actual use of mental health services and treatment using health administrative data from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Vital statistics, physician claims, and hospital discharge records. Mixed-effects regression analysis will be conducted to examine the direct associations between ethnicity, immigration status and reported mental health outcomes. Analysis will also examine the association between ethnicity and utilization of adequate mental health care services during Covid-19 pandemic. The findings will help to inform policy makers to identify potential barriers to accessing mental health services and to mobilize resources to the populations in need.