Source: Canadian Medical Association Journal

Sep 9 2025

Black adolescents with mental distress are less likely to use mental health services than their White peers, and Black girls are the least likely to access care, according to new research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.241733.

“Adolescence is a crucial developmental stage and a critical period for onset of mental health problems,” writes Mercedes Sobers, a PhD candidate in epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto and research coordinator at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, with coauthors. “In Canada, Black adolescents disproportionately access services through crisis situations, such as justice system interactions or when intensive care is required, suggesting they are less likely to access mental health care until intense intervention is needed.“

There is a lack of data on mental health services usage in Canada for Black youth and other racialized populations.

Click on this link to continue reading: Black adolescents in Canada face barriers to mental health care access