1 / 14

The Mental Health of Immigrants and Minorities in Canada - The Social and Economic Effects

The Mental Health of Immigrants and Minorities in Canada - The Social and Economic Effects. M. Annie Xu (HRSDC/UNB) Metropolis Brown Bag Seminar July 13, 2010 Ottawa. Acknowledgement. Dr. Ted McDonald (UNB) Economics Domain, Atlantic Metropolis Centre

aristotle-mcpherson
Télécharger la présentation

The Mental Health of Immigrants and Minorities in Canada - The Social and Economic Effects

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Mental Health of Immigrants and Minorities in Canada- The Social and Economic Effects M. Annie Xu (HRSDC/UNB) Metropolis Brown Bag Seminar July 13, 2010 Ottawa

  2. Acknowledgement • Dr. Ted McDonald (UNB) • Economics Domain, Atlantic Metropolis Centre • Atlantic Research Data Centre (Statistics Canada) • NS Department of Health

  3. Research Rationale • Significance of mental health • Mental health and immigration • Implications for population health • Implications for immigration policy

  4. Literature Review • Mental health is influenced by demographic/SES factors • Findings on ethnic variation in mental health are inconsistent • The effect of immigration on mental health is not clear • HIE is more established with respect to physical health than mental health

  5. Research Questions • What are the differences in mental health between immigrants and native born Canadians? • What is the influence of local ethnic network on immigrants’ mental health?

  6. Data • CCHS (Canadian Community Health Survey) Cycles 1.1 (2001), 2.1(2003), and 3.1 (2005) • 2001 Census

  7. The “Mental Health Index” • Components • Depression • Binge drinking • Suicide ideation • Stress • Two-point scale measurement • Final score ranges from 0 - 4

  8. Methodology Where Y = Mental health T = Year dummy Z = Demo/SES/Immigration variables N = Local ethnic concentration D = Neighborhood fixed effects E = Minority fixed effects

  9. Methodology – cont’d • Ordered probit modeling • Separate estimates for Men & Women • Extended models • Model I: Demographic/SES controls • Model II: Arrival cohort effects • Model III: Ethnic network effects

  10. Findings • Positively related to mental health • Income • Social support • Physical health • Negatively related to mental health • Marriage disruption • Urban residence • Age • Education

  11. Findings – cont’d • Better mental health among visible minorities • “Healthy immigrant effect” • Arrival cohort effect not found • Arrival age effect • Significant neighbourhood effects found for both men and women

  12. Conclusions • Ethnic disparities exist • “HIE” applies for mental health • Benefits of local ethnic support

  13. Policy Implications • Settlement Issues • Language and cultural orientation • Employment • Social networks • Integration Issue • Continuous education/career development • Cultural competence • Social inclusion • Immigration Policy • Admission categories • Short-term vs. long-term • Quality vs. quantity

  14. Questions?

More Related