​People who belong to less advantaged groups tend to experience unequal social power and discrimination. Factors such as gender, race, sexual orientation, immigration status, income, and education can impact a person's access to timely, appropriate, and high-quality health care.

How do we ensure that vulnerable populations have access to services and supports for mental health and addiction problems? How do we reduce avoidable and unjust differences in health among population groups? How do we create equal opportunities for good health?

CAMH’s Health Equity researchers look at equity and access among those who are most vulnerable to developing mental health or addictions problems.

Current projects

Immigrants and ethnic communities

•  A Comparative Study of Pathways to First Episode Care for Psychosis in Three Ethnic Groups in Ontario. This study will document and compare routes into care for a first episode of psychosis among Canadians of African, Caribbean, and European origins living in Ontario (K McKenzie).
• An HIV/AIDS Intervention in Ethiopian Immigrant Communities. This project will evaluate a culturally appropriate community-based participatory HIV/AIDS intervention program for Ethiopian immigrants residing in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa (S Noh).
• Self-employment and Immigrant health: Job Stress and Health Among Asian Immigrant Micro-business Owners. This project compares the health of Asian immigrant micro-business owners to workers with paid employment. The findings will shed light on the factors affecting the health of this growing segment of the population (S Noh). 

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LGBTQ communities​ ​

• Creating Our Families: A Pilot Study of the Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans People Accessing Assisted Human Reproduction Services in Ontario. This study explores the experiences of LGBTQ people with fertility clinics and sperm donation services in Ontario (L Ross, L Steele)
• Using Theatre to Disseminate LGBT Peoples’ Experiences with Assisted Human Reproduction Services. Funded by CIHR, this project will disseminate the results of “Creating Our Families” (see above) to AHR service providers and LGBTQ prospective parents using interactive or “forum” theatre, an arts-based knowledge translation approach.
   

Researchers