Submission ID 131941
| Issue/Objective | Black African immigrant youth in Canada experience disproportionate mental health inequities shaped by anti-Black racism, migration-related stressors, cultural stigma, and systemic barriers to care. These inequities were further exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting gaps in health system responsiveness and trust. Despite growing awareness, Canadian mental health systems remain largely grounded in Eurocentric models that inadequately reflect the lived experiences of racialized youth. This research examines the mental health experiences of Black African immigrant youth through an intersectional and social determinants of health lens, with the objective of identifying context-driven, equity-oriented approaches that centre youth voices and inform system-level change. |
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| Methodology/Approach | This study employs a critical narrative and conceptual analysis drawing on intersectionality theory and the social determinants of health framework. The analysis synthesizes Canadian and global literature on Black youth mental health, focusing on structural, institutional, and practitioner-level barriers to care. Particular attention is given to the role of anti-Black racism, cultural mistrust, and service gaps across health systems. The paper also integrates Afrocentric and youth-centered frameworks to examine alternative models of care and inform recommendations for policy and practice. |
| Results | Findings reveal that mental health inequities among Black African immigrant youth are produced through multilevel systemic factors, including structural racism, economic marginalization, and limited access to culturally responsive services. Youth frequently encounter stigma, discrimination, and culturally incongruent care, contributing to delayed access, mistrust, and poorer outcomes. The analysis identifies key enablers of equitable care, including Afrocentric models, trauma-informed and youth-centered practices, and partnerships with community and faith-based organizations. Importantly, centring lived experience and co-design emerges as critical for improving service relevance, engagement, and effectiveness. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | This paper demonstrates that advancing equity in mental health systems requires the redistribution of decision-making power toward Black youth. Context-driven, culturally grounded approaches, particularly Afrocentric and community-led models, offer pathways to more responsive and resilient systems. Policy implications include strengthening the Black mental health workforce, embedding anti-racist and culturally competent care, and institutionalizing co-design in program and policy development. Scaling these approaches across health systems can enhance trust, accessibility, and long-term sustainability, aligning with the conference subtheme of centring marginalized voices and advancing equity in action. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Kamsiyochukwu Okpalugo McMaster University Azza Eissa MD, PhD Institute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners |
