Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services That Impact Black Canadians: A Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis.

IF 2.4 3区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2025-02-11 DOI:10.1007/s40615-025-02306-y

Ibukunoluwa Grace Okusanya, Samantha B Meyer

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Abstract

Although experiencing lower levels of mental health compared to the general population of Canada, Black Canadians are less inclined to seek help from mental health services. Thus, the aim of this scoping review is to systematically document the current literature on the barriers in accessing mental health services among Black Canadians. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of the existing literature was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, and Scopus on September 8, 2024. The final dataset consisted of 20 studies published between 1998 and 2023. Findings were synthesized using the sociobehavioural model of health service use to define the subtypes of barriers and the construct of Mental Health Literacy to guide the thematic analysis of the extracted data. Barriers impacting Black Canadians' access of mental health services included language barriers, difficulties in navigating the mental healthcare system, wait times, the quality of resources, and the lack of mental health services in their communities. Themes identified as barriers of use were Mental Health Literacy, Negative Perceptions of the Mental Healthcare System, and Discrimination. Challenges discussed in this review implicate the importance of a multitargeted approach to increasing the access and usage of mental health services among Black Canadians. This review also provides a foundation for research and practice that aims to investigate and develop strategies to promote the mental health of the Black population in Canada. Accordingly, we identify gaps in research-regarding the mental health perceptions, beliefs, and experiences of Black Canadians, required to properly develop interventions that increase mental health service access.

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影响加拿大黑人获得精神卫生服务的障碍：范围审查和专题分析。

虽然与加拿大一般人口相比，加拿大黑人的心理健康水平较低，但他们不太倾向于向心理健康服务机构寻求帮助。因此，本范围审查的目的是系统地记录目前关于加拿大黑人获得精神卫生服务障碍的文献。遵循PRISMA指南，于2024年9月8日使用PubMed、PsycINFO、Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health和Scopus对现有文献进行系统检索。最终的数据集包括1998年至2023年间发表的20项研究。研究结果综合使用卫生服务的社会行为模型来定义障碍的亚型，并构建心理健康素养来指导提取数据的专题分析。影响加拿大黑人获得精神卫生服务的障碍包括语言障碍、在精神卫生保健系统中导航的困难、等待时间、资源质量以及社区缺乏精神卫生服务。被确定为使用障碍的主题是心理健康素养，对精神卫生保健系统的负面看法和歧视。本审查中讨论的挑战表明，采取多目标方法增加加拿大黑人获得和使用精神卫生服务的重要性。本综述还为旨在调查和制定促进加拿大黑人心理健康战略的研究和实践提供了基础。因此，我们确定了研究中的差距——关于加拿大黑人的心理健康观念、信仰和经历，需要适当地制定干预措施，增加心理健康服务的获取。

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来源期刊

Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

7.30

自引率

5.10%

发文量

263

期刊介绍： Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities reports on the scholarly progress of work to understand, address, and ultimately eliminate health disparities based on race and ethnicity. Efforts to explore underlying causes of health disparities and to describe interventions that have been undertaken to address racial and ethnic health disparities are featured. Promising studies that are ongoing or studies that have longer term data are welcome, as are studies that serve as lessons for best practices in eliminating health disparities. Original research, systematic reviews, and commentaries presenting the state-of-the-art thinking on problems centered on health disparities will be considered for publication. We particularly encourage review articles that generate innovative and testable ideas, and constructive discussions and/or critiques of health disparities.Because the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities receives a large number of submissions, about 30% of submissions to the Journal are sent out for full peer review.