CaCBT for Canadians of South Asian Origin

About

There are 2.6 million Canadians of South Asian origin in Canada, making them the largest racialized group in the country, constituting 7.1% of the total Canadian population. South Asian Canadians are affected by higher rates of anxiety and mood disorders compared to other populations, and are also 85 per cent less likely to seek treatment than other Canadians who experience the same illness. The lower use of mental health services highlights the need for appropriate care for these populations.

Few formal culturally adapted treatments have been implemented or evaluated for mental health services. Still, the few studies that had been conducted indicated that culturally adapted cognitive behavioural therapy (CaCBT) is more effective than standard cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and could be a valuable treatment option for people with mental health problems in Canada.

With funding from Health Canada, CAMH collaborated with the following organizations:

• The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
• Moving Forward Family Services (Vancouver),
• Punjabi Community Health Services (Greater Toronto Area)
• Ottawa Newcomer Health Centre (Ottawa)

Overall, participants who received CaCBT reported lower levels of mental illness symptoms and higher self-reported overall health than those receiving standard CBT. The number of mental health visits to a psychiatrist, psychologist and other medical doctors was also significantly lower in the CaCBT group, indicating that expanding this therapy more widely in Canada could reduce strain on the healthcare system.

See below for links to the full research report, as well as CaCBT tools developed as part of this study aimed at both mental health professionals and those seeking treatment.

Development and Evaluation of Culturally Adapted CBT to Improve Community Mental Health Services for Canadians of South Asian Origin: Final Report

This report outlines a three-phased mixed-methods study focused on the cultural adaptation of CBT for South Asian populations in Canada experiencing depression and anxiety.