Challenges we face for advancing multicultural mental health research with older adults in Ontario/Canada

Ontario Multicultural Health Conference

March 17, 2012

Atsuko Matsuoka,

Associate Professor, School of Social Work,

Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies,

York University.

A quick check in• 28% of current older adults are

immigrants.

• More than a half of older adults in Metropolitan Toronto are immigrants (62.3%).

• Among older immigrants who arrived in Canada in or after 1991, 75.6% belonged to a racialized community .

• Women represent a greater proportion of older immigrants than men.

Source: Turcotte, M., & Schellenberg, G. (2007). A portrait of seniors in Canada 2006 (No. 89-519-XIE). Ottawa: Minister of Industry.

Despite this demographic trend, little is known about important issues faced by ethnic minority older adults and mental health.

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Shah, Doe and Deverill (2008) found a dearth of knowledge in geriatric psychiatry research addressing ethnic minority older adults. They speculated on several reasons.

1) Geriatric psychiatry researchers may be unaware of the demographic changes;

2) Researchers may experience difficulty in securing research funding in this field as funding bodies may be unaware of the demographic changes and importance of research in this area;

3) The research funding organizations and research institutions may be unaware of and insensitive to ethnic differences and needs.

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Another important issue is ageism in our society. The Senate Committee on aging report (2006) for example, sees older adults as a burden to Canadian society (see Struthers, forthcoming).

Struthers, J. (forthcoming). Framing Aging Through the State: Canada’s Two Senate Committees on Aging, 1963-1966 and 2006-2009, Canadian Review of Social Policy.

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Other important issues are related to collaboration with the ethnic minority communities Among critical researchers there is

growing awareness that research needs to not maintain or perpetuate inequality but resist it and transform health care systems and knowledge.

So, anti-oppressive research and research which utilizes intersectionality perspectives and addresses intersectional oppression should be promoted.

e.g. not falling into “cultural essentialism”

At a more practical level: compensate time and expertise provided by the community, agencies, and individuals in research.

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What is the most important thing that OMHARN could do to best address this challenge?

Shah, Doe and Deverill (2008) concluded:

“Until researchers, research institutions, funding organizations and policy-makers acknowledge the rising numbers of ethnic minority elders and recognize the importance of using ethnic minority-specific research data in the planning of culturally sensitive geriatric psychiatry services and mental health promotion programs, ethnic elders will continue to experience difficulty in receiving culturally appropriate services” (p.1045).Shah, A., Doe, P. & Deverill, K. (2008). Ethnic minority elders: Are they neglected in published geriatric psychiatry literature? International Psychogeriatrics, 20(5), 1041-1045.

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OMHARN could

1. Raise awareness of researchers, research institutions, funding organizations and policy-makers on the demographic changes and importance of knowledge building in this century.

2. Counter unchecked ageism among researchers, research institutions, funding organizations and policy-makers

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OMHARN could

3.Promote anti-oppressive research and perspectives which include intersectionality.

4. Raise awareness of research institutions, funding organizations and policy-makers about the cost incurred to the community, agencies, and individuals to participate in research.

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References:

Shah, A., Doe, P. & Deverill, K. (2008). Ethnic minority elders: Are they neglected in published geriatric psychiatry literature? International Psychogeriatrics, 20(5), 1041-1045.

Struthers, J. (forthcoming). Framing Aging Through the State: Canada’s Two Senate Committees on Aging, 1963-1966 and 2006-2009, Canadian Review of Social Policy.

Turcotte, M., & Schellenberg, G. (2007). A portrait of seniors in Canada 2006 (No. 89-519-XIE). Ottawa: Minister of Industry.

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