Better data can't come soon enough
As Cénat, Williams, and others continue to advocate for more granular data, researchers are racing to fill information gaps on race, ethnicity, and mental health, and use them to address the mental health crisis.
For example, Williams recently conducted a national survey of 1,500 diverse Canadians in conjunction with Angus Reid Institute, a public opinion research foundation. The survey asked: Have you had trouble finding mental health care when needed? What were the obstacles that got in the way? And what conditions do you think are most challenging to get care for?
Williams is still analyzing the results. However, she says almost half of Canadians have difficulty finding mental health care, especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Indigenous Canadians reported more negative experiences with mental healthcare providers than other groups; Asian Canadians said they have trouble finding mental health professionals who speak their language; and, Black Canadians often said they could not find therapists who shared their race or ethnicity.
"My goal is to make mental health care more accessible to everyone, particularly groups historically underserved, including people of color. Without the data, it's hard to intervene," she says.