Our Approach
We are using a population- and community-based research approach to explore compounding disadvantage related to COVID-19 among immigrants with cancer and/or mental health & addictions.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
- To explore the impact of COVID-19 on immigrants and racialized populations who also live with cancer or mental health & addiction conditions.
- To engage stakeholders (people living with cancer or mental health & addiction conditions, service provider and policy/decision makers) in knowledge translation and exchange to plan effective and inclusive responses that reduce health disparities and promote equitable access to cancer and mental health and addictions services during pandemics or future crises.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the physical and mental health of Canadians, with immigrants bearing a disproportionate burden. Research shows that despite comprising only a quarter of the population, immigrants account for nearly half of COVID-19 cases in Ontario. Areas with recent immigrants, poverty, and unemployment, have higher rates of COVID-19.
Immigrants with chronic illnesses, especially cancer or mental health and addiction conditions, face a higher risk of contracting and experiencing severe illness from COVID-19.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of research on these high-risk groups. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on immigrants with these conditions is crucial for effective pandemic and crisis responses.
Our study aims to assess whether immigrants with active cancers or mental health and addiction conditions face a higher risk of COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and mortality compared to non-immigrants with the same conditions or without any conditions.
OUR METHODOLOGY
We are using existing linked provincial-level administrative data to compare COVID-19 vaccination, diagnoses, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and mortality among immigrants with active cancers, and/or mental health and addictions, versus immigrants without these conditions and non-immigrants with and without these conditions.
We will hold online think tank sessions to engage affected communities, service providers, and policy/decision-makers in knowledge translation and exchange to strategize effective and inclusive responses that reduce health disparities and promote equitable access to cancer and mental health and addictions services during pandemics or future crises.
our partners
