Examining Variations in the Prevalence of Diagnosed Mood or Anxiety Disorders Among Migrant Groups in Ontario, 1995–2015: A Population-Based, Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background International evidence on the frequency of mood or anxiety disorders among migrant groups is highly variable, as it is dependent on the time since migration and the socio-political context of the host country. Our objective was to estimate trends in the prevalence of diagnosed mood or anxiety disorders among recent (<5 years in Canada) and settled (5–10 years in Canada) migrant groups, relative to the general population of Ontario, Canada. Methods We used a repeated cross-sectional design consisting of four cross-sections spanning 5 years each, constructed using health administrative databases from 1995 to 2015. We included all Ontario residents between the ages of 16 and 64 years. We assessed differences in the prevalence of mood or anxiety disorders adjusting for age, sex, and neighbourhood-level income. We further evaluated the impact of migrant class and region of birth. Results The prevalence of mood or anxiety disorders was lower among recent (weighted mean = 4.10%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.59% to 4.60%) and settled (weighted mean = 4.77%; 95% CI, 3.94% to 5.61%) migrant groups, relative to the general population (weighted mean = 7.39%; 95% CI, 6.83% to 7.94%). Prevalence estimates varied greatly by region of birth and migrant class. We found variation in prevalence estimates over time, with refugee groups having the largest increases between 1995 and 2015. Conclusions Our findings highlight the complexity of mood and anxiety disorders among migrant groups, and that not all groups share the same risk profile. These results can be used to help inform health service allocation and the development of supportive programs for specific migrant groups.

Forced migration and psychological distress among migrants in transit through Mexico

“…5 Mental health is one of the areas in which economic and forced migrants differ. While studies in the Americas generally show migrants to have better mental health than non-migrants, [6][7][8] studies of forcibly displaced people consistently show high prevalences of symptoms of mental health problems including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. The difference between the two groups is likely attributable to the traumatic experiences that drive migration in each case.…”

Social Disparities in Mental Health Service Use Among Children and Youth in Ontario: Evidence From a General, Population-Based Survey

“…[17][18][19] Even within migrant subgroups differences in mental health have been documented, with refugees exhibiting increased mental health symptom severity and hospitalization. 6,[20][21][22] Refugees are distinct from immigrants and should be examined in this way as their resettlement in Canada is considered involuntary and a result of fear of persecution, war or armed conflict. 23 Andersen's behavioural model fits within the paradigm of variance in service use by conceptualizing the determinants into 3 broad categories.…”