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

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

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

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

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

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

8. 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. 9 Methodology – cont d Ordered probit modeling Ordered probit modeling Separate estimates for Men & Women Separate estimates for Men & Women Extended models Extended models Model I: Demographic/SES controls Model I: Demographic/SES controls Model II: Arrival cohort effects Model II: Arrival cohort effects Model III: Ethnic network effects Model III: Ethnic network effects

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

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

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

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

14. 14 Questions?