Youth Mental Health Service Use and Immigration in British Columbia
Author Information
Author(s): Kaoser Ridhwana, Thakore Padmini, Peterson Sandra, Wiedmeyer Mei-ling, Sierra-Heredia Cecilia, Goldenberg Shira, Machado Stefanie, Hagos Selamawit, Tayyar Elmira, Bozorgi Yasmin, Lavergne M. Ruth
Primary Institution: Simon Fraser University
Hypothesis
The relationship between neighbourhood income and youth mental health service use differs by immigration experience.
Conclusion
Immigrant youth use significantly fewer mental health services than non-immigrant youth, with higher rates of involuntary hospitalizations among the former.
Supporting Evidence
- Non-immigrant youth used substantially more services than immigrant youth.
- Service use increased following the pandemic’s start and peaked between January and March 2021.
- Community-based service use was highest among non-immigrant youth in lower-income neighbourhoods.
- Immigrant youth had higher proportions of involuntary admissions.
Takeaway
This study found that immigrant youth in British Columbia have a harder time getting mental health help compared to non-immigrant youth, especially if they live in low-income areas.
Methodology
The study used linked administrative health and migration data to analyze mental health service use among youth aged 10 to 24 in British Columbia from April 2019 to March 2022.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include the inability to measure individual-level income and the exclusion of certain immigrant groups from the analysis.
Limitations
The study could not capture specific ethnicity or racialization, individual-level income, or service use of immigrants with temporary status.
Participant Demographics
The study included 864,407 youth aged 10 to 24, with 67.6% being non-immigrant and 32.4% being immigrant youth.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
Q1 (lowest): RR 0.81, 95% CI: 0.78, 0.84; Q2: RR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.76; 0.83; Q3: RR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.84, 0.91; Q4: RR 0.93, 95% CI: 0.89, 0.97
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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