Best Advice Guide: Social Determinants of Health – The College of Family Physicians of Canada – 2015-03
This practical guide provides family physicians with concrete steps on how to consider and improve patients’ social determinants of health (SDoH). The document provides a background on the social determinants of health, and a practical component with suggested clinical, community,
Building Bridges – Empowering a People in a Remote Indigenous Community – 2019-11-05
Pikangikum First Nation is a remote Ojibway community in the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario. Due to the high number of youth suicides, addictions, and mental health calls for service, the OPP brought the Community Response Unit (CRU) principles to
Can a Connection to Culture Reduce Mental Illness Symptoms and Risk for Future Violence? [2018]
Recent policy initiatives and service provider strategic frameworks from the state of Victoria have highlighted intentions to invest in culturally safe practices for justice‐involved Indigenous individuals. However, the culturally themed frameworks and protocols presented by health and justice organisations appear
Childhood socioeconomic position and adult mental wellbeing: Evidence from four British birth cohort studies [2017]
Background There is much evidence showing that childhood socioeconomic position is associated with physical health in adulthood; however existing evidence on how early life disadvantage is associated with adult mental wellbeing is inconsistent. This paper investigated whether childhood socioeconomic position
Comparisons of Social Support and Social Networks in Homeless and Vulnerably Housed Women [2020]
Social support is closely connected to mental health and well-being as well as experiences of housing vulnerability. This study explored differences between homeless and vulnerably housed women in their experiences of social support. Forty-nine homeless and 43 vulnerably housed women
Competing Discourses of Household Food Insecurity in Canada [2018]
Household food insecurity (HFI) impacts over 1.7 million households in Canada with adverse effects upon health. As a signatory to numerous international covenants asserting that access to food is a human right, Canadian governments are obliged to reduce HFI, yet
Connection to the land as a youth-identified social determinant of Indigenous Peoples’ health [2019]
Background Social determinants of Indigenous health are known to include structural determinants such as history, political climate, and social contexts. Relationships, interconnectivity, and community are fundamental to these determinants. Understanding these determinants from the perspective of Indigenous youth is vital
Criminal history and social disadvantage as predictors of the severity of violent offending – 2018
Lethal violence is often seen as the tip of the iceberg and homicide perpetrators are seen as manifesting the most extreme number of various risk factors. This article explores whether that is the case. Using a unique data set combining
Declining mental health among disadvantaged Americans [2018]
Significance In the past few years, references to the opioid epidemic, drug poisonings, and associated feelings of despair among Americans, primarily working-class whites, have flooded the media, and related patterns of mortality have been of increasing interest to social scientists.
Deterioration of Postincarceration Social Support for Emerging Adults [2017]
More than 2.5 million emerging adults (ages 18-25) are incarcerated annually and most do poorly after release. Social support after an individual’s release from incarceration is a critical protective factor against recidivism for emerging adults. However, little is known about
Determinants of self-reported mental health and utilization of mental health services in Canada [2017]
Research evidence suggests that the prevalence of mental health conditions in Canada has increased while a considerable percentage of people with a mental health issue do not seek professional mental health services. Weighted logistic regression models were used to determine
Disparities in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: Does Where You Live Matter? [2018]
This study focused on (1) whether disparities in timely receipt of substance use services can be explained in part by the characteristics of the community in which the clients reside and (2) whether the effect of community characteristics on timely
Does food security predict poor mental health? – 2018
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess food security as a risk factor in the development of poor mental health among younger populations in the USA over an eight-year period using a nationally representative cross-sectional sample. Design/methodology/approach Using
Effects of a service‐learning experience on health‐related students’ attitudes toward the homeless [2020]
ObjectivesA community engagement service‐learning experience was planned to provide health services for the homeless during a local 1‐day event. The objectives were to (a) determine the feasibility of a service‐learning experience, and to (b) examine the effects on students’ attitudes
Engagement in primary health care among marginalized people who use drugs in Ottawa, Canada [2020]
BackgroundThere may be less primary health care engagement among people who use drugs (PWUD) than among the general population, even though the former have greater comorbidity and more frequent use of emergency department care. We investigated factors associated with primary
Enhancing social inclusion of young adults with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review of original empirical studies [2019]
BackgroundSocial inclusion is regarded as an important determinant of health, particularly for young adults with intellectual disabilities. However, only a limited number of reviews report on the findings of original empirical studies on social inclusion of young adults with intellectual
Ex-Prisoners with Mental Illness, Substance Abuse Have 12-Fold Risk of Injury – 2018
People released from prison who struggle with both mental illness and substance use problems are 12 times more likely to sustain an injury compared to those in the general public, according to a new Australian study published in the journal
Examining All-cause and Cause-specific Mortality among Former Prisoners in Pennsylvania [2018]
Former prisoners have a higher than expected risk of death following release from incarceration. However, little is known about the specific risk factors for post-release mortality among former prisoners. The current study uses a unique set of measures obtained from
Experience of Child–Parent Separation and Later Risk of Violent Criminality [2018]
Introduction Separation from a parent during childhood has been linked with heightened longer-term violence risk, but it remains unclear how this relationship varies by gender, separation subgroup, and age at separation. This phenomenon was investigated by examining a wide array
Experiences with the implementation of Individual Placement and Support for people with severe mental illness: a qualitative study among stakeholders [2018]
BackgroundIndividual Placement and Support (IPS) is an evidence-based approach to help people with severe mental illness achieve competitive employment. This article provides insight into an organizational and a financial implementation strategy for IPS in the Netherlands by exploring the perceived
Factors associated with health service utilisation for common mental disorders: a systematic review [2018]
Background There is a large treatment gap for common mental disorders (CMD), with wide variation by world region. This review identifies factors associated with formal health service utilisation for CMD in the general adult population, and compares evidence from high-income
Factors Influencing Mental Health and Criminal Justice Involvement – Bridging the Gap Between Two Sectors by Addressing the Social Determinants of Health
Five social determinants of health (income and employment; housing; education; discrimination; and social inclusion) and how they impact mental health and criminal justice involvement will be outlined. Promising practices and an expert panel discussion on future opportunities for system change and next
Fear and Distrust Within the Canadian Welfare System: Experiences of People With Mental Illness [2018]
While experiences of fear and distrust have been documented as a part of recipients’ interactions with disability benefits, there have been few attempts to explore how they are shaped by system features and their impact on employment pursuits. The purpose
Financial concerns and symptom distress among psychiatric outpatients [2018]
Purpose While epidemiological studies have linked economic hardship and financial difficulties with psychological distress and suicide, investigation of financial concerns among users of public mental health services has been limited. Moreover, empirical data regarding a relationship between financial difficulties and
Financial insecurity and risk experiences of justice involved persons with severe mental illness [2017]
More information is needed about the financial experiences of justice-involved persons with severe mental illness. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to examine the financial resources, financial risk experiences, and financial literacy of a random sample of 12 mental health
Five Challenges of Designing Disability Income Support for People with Mental Illnesses: A Qualitative Case Study of Australia and Ontario – 2018
In most disability income support (DIS) programs, mental illnesses is the fastest growing category of illness, but it is unknown how policy designers consider this vulnerable group. Forty-five DIS policy designers in Australia and Ontario explained how they consider mental
Food Insecurity Among Formerly Homeless Individuals Living in Permanent Supportive Housing [2019]
Objectives. To assess the role of health-related factors, health care, nutrition, and socioeconomic factors in food insecurity prevalence in a sample of previously homeless adults living in permanent supportive housing. Methods. In 2016 to 2017, we recruited and completed survey
Food Insecurity and Mental Health Status: A Global Analysis of 149 Countries [2017]
Introduction This study sought to determine the association of individual-level food insecurity (FI) with mental health status across all global regions. Methods Cross-sectional data were analyzed in 2016 from the 2014 Gallup World Poll, a series of globally implemented, nationally
Food insecurity status and mortality among adults in Ontario, Canada [2018]
Background Food insecurity is associated with a wide array of negative health outcomes and higher health care costs but there has been no population-based study of the association of food insecurity and mortality in high-income countries. Methods We use cross-sectional
From Social Integration to Social Isolation: The Relationship Between Social Network Types and Perceived Availability of Social Support in a National Sample of Older Canadians [2017]
It is well-documented that social isolation is detrimental to health and well-being. What is less clear is what types of social networks allow older adults to get the social support they need to promote health and well-being. In this study,
Gender Differences in Desistance From Crime: How Do Social Bonds Operate Among Formerly Incarcerated Emerging Adults? [2016]
Life course theory suggests that the social bond of marriage can serve as a pivotal turning point toward the termination of criminal activity, particularly for men. Yet limited research has investigated how young adult men and women utilize social bonds
Geographic and socio-demographic predictors of household food insecurity in Canada, 2011–12 [2019]
Background Household food insecurity is a potent social determinant of health and health care costs in Canada, but understanding of the social and economic conditions that underlie households’ vulnerability to food insecurity is limited. Methods Data from the 2011–12 Canadian
Geographic Clustering of Admissions to Inpatient Psychiatry among Adults with Cognitive Disorders in Ontario, Canada: Does Distance to Hospital Matter? – 2018
Objective: This study examined relationships among hospital accessibility, socio-economic context, and geographic clustering of inpatient psychiatry admissions for adults with cognitive disorders in Ontario, Canada. Method: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using admissions data from 71 hospitals with inpatient
Getting People with Serious Mental Illnesses on Track: Insights from the Health-based Model of Desistance [2020]
Scholarship from the life-course paradigm has produced much evidence on the crime-reducing benefits of turning points such as securing a good job or developing a stable, positive relationship. Building on these insights, recent work has demonstrated the utility of incorporating
Global Burden of Disease and the Impact of Mental and Addictive Disorders [2019]
Purpose of Review This contribution reviews the newest empirical evidence regarding the burden of mental and addictive disorders and weighs their importance for global health in the first decades of the twenty-first century. Recent Findings Mental and addictive disorders affected
Health Behaviors and Juvenile Delinquency [2018]
This study draws upon Kaplan’s theory of self-attitude and deviant response to examine the relationship between health behavior and juvenile delinquency. The analysis, examining data from the Monitoring the Future 2013 study, shows that health behavior is associated with multiple
Health behind bars: can exploring the history of prison health systems impact future policy? – 2018
Highlights • The health of prison populations often represents ‘multi-dimensional disadvantage’. • Disease trends, societal attitudes and political forces influence prison healthcare. • Examining historical links between policy and health advances new thinking. • Greater familiarity with our shared history
Health Care Utilization and Expenditures of Homeless Family Members Before and After Emergency Housing – 2018
Objectives. To describe longitudinal health service utilization and expenditures for homeless family members before and after entering an emergency shelter. Methods. We linked Massachusetts emergency housing assistance data with Medicaid claims between July 2008 and June 2015, constructing episodes of
Health Implications of Housing Assignments for Incarcerated Transgender Women [2020]
Transgender women (i.e., persons who were assigned male sex at birth but who live and identify as female) experience forms of discrimination that limit their access to stable housing and contribute to high rates of incarceration; once incarcerated, the approaches
Helping people with mental health disabilities access ODSP: An expert report on the complexity of mental health treatment in Ontario [2018]
People with mental health disabilities face particular barriers in accessing Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits. A new report by a group of medical experts from University of Toronto’s Collaborative Mental Health Care Working Group will help applicants establish their
Helping people with psychosis to expand their social networks: the stakeholders’ views [2020]
BackgroundPeople with psychosis experience more social isolation than any other diagnostic group and have smaller social networks than the general population. This isolation can have a detrimental effect on quality of life. No direct, standardised interventions have been developed to
Homelessness as a predictor of mortality: an 11-year register-based cohort study – 2018
Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the association between homelessness and psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders, on one hand, and cause-specific and all-cause mortality on the other in a high-income country. Methods A historical nationwide register-based
Household Food Insecurity in Ontario during a Period of Poverty Reduction, 2005–2014 [2019]
Using data from five cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey spanning 2005 to 2014, we assessed changes in household food insecurity in Ontario after the 2007 introduction of the Ontario Child Benefit and the 2008 implementation of the province’s
Housing as a Platform for Health and Equity: Evidence and Future Directions [2019]
The links between housing and health are now known to be strong and multifaceted and to generally span across 4 key pillars: stability, affordability, quality and safety, and neighborhood opportunity. Housing disparities in the United States are tenaciously patterned along
Housing as a social determinant of health and wellbeing: developing an empirically-informed realist theoretical framework [2020]
BackgroundThe role of housing as a social determinant of health is well-established, but the causal pathways are poorly understood beyond the direct effects of physical housing defects. For low-income, vulnerable households there are particular challenges in creating a sense of
In spite of the system: A qualitatively-driven mixed methods analysis of the mental health services experiences of LGBTQ people living in poverty in Ontario, Canada [2018]
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or queer (LGBTQ) people face barriers to accessing mental health care; however, we know little about service experiences of low income LGBTQ people. In this qualitatively-driven mixed methods study, over 700 women and/or trans people completed
Incidence and risk factors for mortality after release from prison in Australia: a prospective cohort study – 2018
Aims To estimate the incidence and identify risk factors for mortality in adults released from prisons in the state of Queensland, Australia. Design Prospective cohort study, linking baseline survey data with a national death register. Setting Selected prisons within Queensland,
Income inequality and mental illness-related morbidity and resilience: a systematic review and meta-analysis [2017]
Background Studies of the association between income inequality and mental health have shown mixed results, probably due to methodological heterogeneity. By dealing with such heterogeneity through a systematic review and meta-analysis, we examine the association between income inequality, mental health
Internet access as a right for realizing the human right to adequate mental (and other) health care [2020]
Human rights protect the conditions of a minimally decent life of which mental health is an indispensable element. Adequate care for mental health is thus recognized as part of the human right to health. However, for populations living far from
IQ, the Urban Environment, and Their Impact on Future Schizophrenia Risk in Men [2017]
Exposure to an urban environment during early life and low IQ are 2 well-established risk factors for schizophrenia. It is not known, however, how these factors might relate to one another. Data were pooled from the North Jutland regional draft
