A study looking into the mental health of newcomers to Canada found they are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The study was conducted by Mental Health Research Canada, with a focus on demographics, mental health, service accessibility, and financial concerns.
Data was collected from 2,152 foreign born participants to determine a comprehensive overview of the newcomer experience in Canada.
The research defines newcomers as immigrants or refugees who have been in Canada for 15 years or less and are adapting to life in the country.
For example, a permanent resident who has been living in the country for 10 years, would still be considered a newcomer.
However, a non-newcomer is a born Canadian resident.
The study found that anxiety and depression over the past three years was higher among newcomers, at 26 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.
On the other hand, 22 per cent of non-newcomers said they experienced anxiety while 14 percent reported feelings of depression.
“This finding emphasizes the urgent need for targeted mental health support and resources to address the specific challenges newcomers face in their journey of settlement,” the study said.
Furthermore, the majority of newcomers surveyed reported struggling most with securing employment and housing.
According to the study, these two factors were the root cause of mental health issues for most new Canadians.
“Housing insecurity is a significant issue, particularly for newcomers with five years or less in Canada, with two in five, 39 per cent, indicating housing related anxiety compared to 22 per cent of non-newcomers,” the study added.
People arriving in Canada also expressed concern about being able to provide food for their families.
More than half of newcomers, 57 per cent, said they were worried about putting food on the table, while 31 per cent had the same worry.
Among all newcomers sharing the aforementioned concern, 70 per cent are employed, 64 per cent fall within the 18-34 age range, and 54 per cent are women.
Additionally, while new Canadians all reported experiencing struggles on arrival, those who had moved to places other than Canada said it was more difficult to settle here than in previous countries, particularly when it came to finding suitable employment and navigating government processes to apply for permanent residency.
However, data also suggests that newcomers within the initial five years of their residence are more likely to pursue educational opportunities, while people who have been in Canada for 6-15 years exhibit the highest employment rate of 75 per cent, which indicates a potential improvement in employment opportunities and stability over time.
Meanwhile, 14 per cent of people who have lived in Canada for five years or less are unemployed, which the study says could be attributed to the challenges of finding stable and suitable work.
A male participant who moved to Canada less than a year ago told researchers that even though he and his wife have jobs, they were not able to find work within their trained fields.
“I have worked in other countries and it has not been this hard… no other countries have needed ‘Canadian experience’,” he shared.
“The only one of us who is not having a hard time is my son. He is in school and is the only one who is happy.”
Establishing a reliable support network is crucial for “integration, well-being, and adaptation to life in Canada,” the study said, but data suggests that newcomers also face more challenges when it comes to setting up robust and reliable social networks.
“New Canadians appear to have a lower percentage of ‘people to count on,’ with an average of 36 per cent indicating having support networks, compared to 52 per cent of Canadians,” research found.
Some participants said they made an effort to integrate by joining online groups and by meeting people from their home country, particularly at places of worship. Others with family members in Canada said they felt connected to them but not to the community at large.
“I have some family that moved to Canada before me that live close by. I would say that is the only connection I really have to my community,” a male participant said.
Overall, the study found that regardless of the length of their stay, 50 per cent of newcomers are likely to have symptoms of severe mental health distress.
Nonetheless, many feel their problems do not warrant seeking help, a mindset stemming from cultural stigma in their home countries that prevents them from accessing services in Canada.
“Mental health is seen as the sickness of the rich (in Bangladesh). It is not a real problem, it is not serious. Normal people don’t get help for mental health. The only time you would be is if you became unable to function,” a male participant who came to Canada less than a year ago said.
According to the study, overall, those in Canada for 15 years or less show elevated levels of anxiety and depression, however there were no significant differences in access to mental health and substance services between all newcomers and non-newcomers.
“The disparity arises when considering the percentage of individuals who felt the need for health services but did not seek them out,” the study said.
Researchers also concluded that alleviating barriers to securing housing and employment will likely negate mental health struggles reported among new Canadians.
