There is evidence to suggest that Black children and youth in Canada face disproportionate challenges in accessing mental healthcare. Thus, the objective of this scoping review was to map current literature on the barriers and facilitators to care for Black youth in Canada. Both academic articles and gray literature published between January 2005 until May 2019 were reviewed. Six databases were searched for relevant academic articles: CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, EBSCOhost, Social Science Citation Index, and Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts. Gray literature was sourced from community recommendations and Google. Thirty-three (33) sources met the inclusion criteria. Data were coded and analyzed using a thematic analysis framework. Barriers to care for Black youth were identified and occurred at multiple levels of society including systemic (i.e., wait times, poor access to practitioners, geographical challenges and financial barriers to care), practitioner-related (i.e., racism and discrimination from providers, the inability to provide culturally competent care and a lack of organizational support) and personal and community-related barriers (i.e., internalized stigma and stigma from community). Support from family and friends, as well as a good relationship with providers, were noted as facilitators. The findings of this review suggest that Black children and youth face many barriers to accessing the Canadian mental healthcare system despite its purported universality. An increase in funding, expansion of the universal healthcare system to include mental health, and concerted effort on delivering culturally competent care are requisite to facilitate access to care for this population. Further research should focus on Black youth, be rooted in community-based research, and explore intersecting identities in the context of mental illness.

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Purpose The experiences of African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) Canadians are seldom explored in the Canadian context. Family physicians act as a gateway to the rest of the healthcare system and are necessary to provide proper patient care. However, Canada’s history with colonialism may impact the socio-cultural context in which patients receive care. Method 41 participants from Waterloo Region, Ontario, were engaged in eight focus groups to discuss their experiences in the healthcare system. Data were analysed following thematic analysis. Results Style of care, racism and discrimination and a lack of cultural competence hindered access. oor Inadequate cultural competence was attributed to western and biomedical approaches, poor understanding of patients’ context, physicians failing to address specific health concerns, and racism and discrimination. Participants highlighted that the two facilitators to care were having an ACB family physician and fostering positive relationships with physicians. Conclusion Participants predominantly expressed dissatisfaction in physicians’ approaches to care, which were compounded by experiences of racism and discrimination. Findings demonstrate how ACB patients are marginalized and excluded from the healthcare syste Iimplications for better access to care included utilizing community healthcare centres, increasing physicians’ capacity around culturally inclusive care, and increasing access to ACB physicians.