Actions needed to promote health equity and the mental health of Canada's Black refugees

• Published in: Ethnicity & health 2022-10, Vol.27 (7), p.1518-1536
• Main Authors: King, Régine Uwibereyeho, Este, David Clarence, Yohani, Sophie, Duhaney, Patrina, McFarlane, Christine, Liu, Jackie Ka Kei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Action; Action orientation; Advisory groups; appropriate and culturally relevant mental health services; Black Canadians; Black people; Brainstorms; Canadians; Cluster analysis; Concept mapping; Criminalization; Cultural identity; Discrimination; Employment; Fairness; Focus groups; Health behavior; Health disparities; health equity; Health promotion; Health services; Housing; Mapping; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mental health care; mental health promotion; Mental health services; Racism; Refugees; Religious beliefs; Self determination; Social factors; Teams
• ISSN: 1355-7858; 1465-3419
• DOI: 10.1080/13557858.2021.1955092

The overall goal was to synthesize knowledge on actions that need to be taken to promote health equity and the mental health of Black refugees in Canada. Group concept mapping systems were applied to generate and organize action-oriented statements related to the different social determinants of health. A total of 174 participants from the cities of Calgary and Edmonton with experience working with Black Canadians participated in four focus groups: (a) 2 focus groups that engaged 123 participants in brainstorming 84 statements guided by the following focus prompt: 'A specific action that would improve the mental health equity of Black refugees living in Canada is ... ' and (b) 2 focus groups of 51 participants who sorted the generated statements and rated them by order of 'importance' and 'ideas seen in action.' Data was further computed and analysed by the research team and a select advisory group from the participants. A 10-cluster map generated included the following clusters: (1) promoting cultural identity, (2) promoting ways of knowing, (3) addressing discrimination and racism, (4) addressing the criminalization of Black Canadians, (5) investing in employment for equity, (6) promoting equity in housing, (7) facilitating self-determination, (8) improving (public) services, (9) promoting appropriate and culturally relevant mental health services, and (10) working with and addressing faith and belief related issues. Clusters 4 and 9 ranked as the most important clusters in promoting health equity and the mental health of Black Canadians. Addressing the criminalization of Black Canadians through a range of rehumanizing interventions at institutional levels will provide a platform from which they can participate and engage others in developing appropriate and culturally relevant mental health services.