Canada: New Immigrants More Depressed Than Others

A new study has indicated a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression among new residents in Canada compared to those born in Canada.

The report by Mental Health Research Canada shows that newcomers are much less likely to seek help for their mental health challenges.

“Issues getting settled in Canada (particularly in terms of employment and housing) are at the root of mental health concerns for most new Canadians.

“More than half of newcomers (57%) express concerns about providing food for their families, compared to 31% of non-newcomers.”

The data in the report was collected from April 2020 to May 2023 and includes responses from over 2,100 individuals who have been in Canada for zero to 15 years.

“Housing insecurity is a significant issue, particularly for newcomers with five years or less in Canada, with two in five (39%) indicating housing-related anxiety compared to 22% of non-newcomers,” the report stated.

A 26-year-old male respondent, quoted in the report, said, “My mental health was fine before coming to Canada. But I came to Canada alone. Once I was here, there were a lot of responsibilities that fell on me. And I was by myself. It was hard.”

The report also noted that 18% of the respondents who arrived in Canada within the last five years were from Africa.