TBD

The Canadian response to the COVID-19 pandemic was the second most stringent among G10 countries. As such, the COVID-19 pandemic and public health responses likely had profound impacts on the mental health of children and youth. Some evidence suggests significant increases in mental health concerns and disruptions in access to healthcare among youth during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. These disruptions are particularly concerning given mental healthcare shortfalls prior to the pandemic. Youth from marginalized groups have historically been disproportionately impacted, including female adolescents, low-income youth, and racialized groups. Therefore, the objectives of this proposed study are, first, to examine the extent to which specific subgroups of youth in Ontario experienced disproportionate levels of disruption in mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and, second, to determine the extent to which disruptions in care widen existing inequalities across these groups. The data used will come from ONPATH, a nationally unique ongoing longitudinal study of youth mental health and access to care across Ontario. The study includes a provincially representative sample of 1,200 youth aged 4-17 years and their caregivers. It includes data at five distinct points during the COVID-19 pandemic. The nature of the study will allow for multi-level structural equation models which will be used to determine if service use disruptions mediate the relationship between group membership and mental health concerns. Determining whether certain groups of youth were disproportionately affected by mental health care service disruptions will inform future decision-making and targeted outreach to ensure all youth retain service during disruptive events.