Social Determinants of Health

In recent years, the experiences of immigrant and refugee young men have drawn attention worldwide. Human-induced environmental disasters, local and global conflicts, and increasingly inequitable distributions of wealth have shaped transnational migration patterns. Canada is home to a large immigrant and refugee population, particularly in its urban areas, and supporting

Purpose: To illuminate long-term experiences of mental illness from both research and autobiographical accounts. Design: A literature review of English-language papers, 1950–2014, relating to the experience of long-term mental illness indexed in AgeInfo, AMED, ASSIA, British Nursing Index (BNI), CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycEXTRA, and PsychINFO. Findings: Twenty-five research papers and nine

Since 2000, 5 studies have been published that each purported to estimate aggregate national mental health costs in Canada. Each of these studies used a different method. Our aim was to compare the studies, and we created a framework for the different elements used to assess mental health costs (direct

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to identify interventions to improve the initiation of mental health care among racial-ethnic minority groups. Methods: The authors searched three electronic databases in February 2016 and independently assessed eligibility of 2,065 titles and abstracts on the basis of three criteria: the study

Homelessness is related to poorer mental health, yet, there is limited understanding of the predictors of mental health of men and women experiencing homelessness. To support service providers in identifying individuals who might be at particular risk of poor mental health, this study investigated the predictors of mental health in

This paper presents a population health framework for homelessness prevention. Rooted in the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative, the framework includes strategies that affect social determinants of health that influence a broad range of health outcomes prevalent among the homeless. For each prevention level, we consider the purpose of prevention,

Introduction: Despite limited research on the topic, it has been observed that military members face unique challenges with social support. Methods: The current study used data provided by treatment-seeking Veterans and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members (N=666) to: (1) determine whether symptomatology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression (MDD), anxiety,

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, and population-level interventions. Best Advice Guide: Social Determinants of Health

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 data from several administrative registers with a nationally representative sample

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. Yet, despite recurring references to distress or despair in journalistic

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 data from individuals who participated in the National Health and

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 The Lancet. Researcher Jesse Young from the Centre for Mental

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 of child–parent separation scenarios. Methods National cohort study including individuals

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 steps will follow with an opportunity for questions. Factors Influencing

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 illnesses when designing policy. Using a grounded theory approach, five

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 psychiatry beds in Ontario, Canada between 2011 and 2014. Data

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 will promote ‘de-othering’ prisoners. Abstract “The value of history is,

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 care 12 months before and 12 months after families

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 cohort study of the Danish population from 15 years of

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 an internet survey, of whom 12 LGBTQ individuals living in

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, Australia. Participants Adults (n = 1320) recruited in Queensland prisons

The paper examines the often neglected, social factors implicated in recovery from severe mental distress, by presenting findings from a biographical study of individuals experiencing psychosis. Biographical interviews with 26 individuals with psychotic experiences and diagnosis of psychotic disorders were conducted and subjected to narrative biographical analysis. This paper focuses

To determine the prevalence rates and characteristics of past-year mental health consultation for Ontario’s adult (18 + years old) immigrant populations. The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2012 was used to calculate the prevalence rates of past-year mental health consultation by service provider type. Characteristics associated with mental health consultation were determined

Objective Recent reports suggest that the mortality gap between persons with schizophrenia and the general population is increasing. We investigated the mortality, age at death, and causes of death among persons diagnosed with schizophrenia and the general population in Finland during 1984–2014. Methods All persons with schizophrenia in Finland were

This report highlights our progress – and what we plan to do next – in our efforts to reduce child poverty, eliminate chronic homelessness, help people move towards employment, increase food security, develop an action plan for income security reform and invest in programs and community-designed solutions. Peter Milczyn Minister