Mental health of immigrants and the utilization of mental health services

Immigration is poised to play a crucial role in propelling Canada’s economy and driving the country’s population growth in the years ahead. As the number of immigrants increases, it is important for policymakers and service providers to gain a deeper understanding of the mental health outcomes of newcomers and their use of mental health services, given the potentially stressful nature of the immigration process and subsequent settlement challenges.
This webinar is based on a research study that linked mental health data and immigration administrative records across provinces and immigration admission categories to shed light on several key questions:

•Firstly, it explores the differences in mental health status between Canadian-born individuals and immigrants by admission category and the world source region.
•Secondly, it examines whether immigrants’ mental health status improves as they spend more time in Canada.
•Thirdly, it investigates whether immigrants are less likely to access mental health services as compared to their Canadian-born counterparts.

The study contributes to a better comprehension of the mental health dynamics of immigrants in Canada and provides valuable insights for informed policy-making and improved support for immigrants.