Linguistic discordance in mental health care
Research team
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Co-PIE. Beaudry (Montfort Hospital), M. Reaume (U Ottawa), T. Mitiku (Montfort Hospital)
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Co-IS. Johnston (Institut du savoir Montfort – ISM), V. Giroux (Montfort Hospital), Charles-Eric Lahaie (ISM)
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CollabAlliance for Healthier Communities (J. Rayner), Outpatient and Community Mental Health Program at Montfort Hospital (R. Proulx-Lamarche)
Funding agency
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Alternative Funding Plan (Innovation Fund for Academic Health Sciences Centres of Ontario). ($66,278.20)Period: 2025-2028
Abstract
The proposed study will assess the impact of language concordance between patients and healthcare providers on mental health outcomes for linguistic minorities in Canada, with a focus on comparing urban and rural settings. It will seek to determine whether language barriers contribute to deteriorating mental health and reduced access to care, particularly in resource-limited settings. The results could guide targeted improvements to strengthen access to mental health services and promote patient-centered care.
This innovative project draws on a national database rich in information on social determinants of health, environment, access to primary care, and mental health outcomes.
The project will use data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), which is representative of the entire population, cross-referenced with other databases. This approach will allow for the analysis of mental health outcomes while considering community factors such as neighborhood walkability, sense of community belonging, and language concordance with primary care providers. It will provide a broader understanding of the intersecting risk factors—linguistic minority status, a neighborhood that is not walkable, and reduced community belonging—that influence mental health across the country. The development of methods and expertise to integrate these data will provide a more complete picture of the health of Francophone and other linguistic minority communities in Canada.