The Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Afro-Caribbean Canadian Youth’s Mental Health and Well-being

Fiona Chrislyn Edwards

doi:10.25071/1929-8471.138

Authors

Fiona Chrislyn Edwards MacEwan University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25071/1929-8471.138

Abstract

The Black community has been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, both economically and mentally. In addition, Black youth have had the added burden of coping with anti-Black racism (ABR) in conjunction with school closures, social distancing, and isolation — all of which profoundly disrupted their everyday lives. This study investigates, from their own perspectives and experiences, how the pandemic has impacted the mental health and well-being of Afro-Caribbean Canadian youth (ACCY) between the ages of 16 and 18 in urban southern Ontario. The findings from this article are drawn from a doctoral dissertation project which identified the mental health experiences of ACCY and examined the ways in which these experiences shape their use of mental health services. The ACCY in this study lived in urban areas in southern Ontario, were using mental health services, and were accessing spiritual and religious supports. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach rooted in a Heideggerian hermeneutics was used, based upon six semi-structured interviews with three female and three male ACCY. Analysis of data followed IPA guidelines. The analysis of the interviews led to the identification of three major themes related to ACCY’s sense of mental health: feelings of loneliness and isolation; self-awareness; and race consciousness of systemic anti-Black racism. The information gleaned from this research provides important insight into ACCY’s mental health and the various barriers, including systemic ABR, that maintain disparities in their mental health. This knowledge has implications for mental health policies and practices with Black youth and can be used to reduce systemic inequity, promote good mental health, and better understand the needs of Black youth in future crisis situations.

Keywords: Mental health, well-being, COVID-19 pandemic, Black youth, systemic inequity.

Author Biography

Fiona Chrislyn Edwards, MacEwan University

School of Social Work, MacEwan University, Edmonton

References

Abrams, L. S., & Moio, J. A. (2009). Critical race theory and the cultural competence dilemma in social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 45(2), 245–261. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23044308

Anucha, U., Srikanthan, S., Siad-Togane, R. & Galabuzi, G. E. (2017). Doing right together for Black youth: What we learned from the community engagement sessions for the Ontario Black Youth Action Plan. Youth Research and Evaluation eXchange (YouthREX). https://doi.org/10.15868/socialsector.33742

Banks, A. (2022). Black adolescent experiences with COVID-19 and mental health services utilization. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 9(4), 1097–1105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-021-01049-w

Bell, D. A. (1995). Who’s afraid of critical race theory? University of Illinois Law Review, 1995(4), 893–910. https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/unilllr1995&div=40&g_sent=1&casa_token=&collection=journals

Brandt, L., Liu, S., Heim, C., & Heinz, A. (2022). The effects of social isolation stress and discrimination on mental health. Translational psychiatry, 12, Article 398. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02178-4

Castro-Ramirez, F., Al-Suwaidi,M., Garcia, P., Rankin, O., Ricard, J. R., & Nock, M. K. (2021). Racism and poverty are barriers to the treatment of youth mental health concerns. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 50(4), 534–546. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2021.1941058

Clarke, J., Hasford, J., Gudge, L., & Mills-Minster, S. (2018). Imagining a community-led, multi-service delivery model for Ontario Child Welfare: A framework for collaboration among African Canadian community partners. Journal of Law and Social Policy, 28(1–2), 42–66. https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/jlsp/vol28/iss2/3

Crenshaw, K., Gotanda, N., Peller, G., & Thomas, K. (Eds.). (1995). Critical race theory: The key writings that formed the movement. The New Press.

Delgado, R., & Stefancic, J. (2023). Critical race theory: An introduction (4th ed.). New York University Press.

Eboigbe, L. I., Simon, C. B., Wang, Y. S., & Tyrell, F. A. (2023). The compounded effect of the dual pandemic on ethnic-racial minority adolescents' mental health and psychosocial well-being. Current Opinion in Psychology, 52, Article 101626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101626

Edwards, F. (2025). A phenomenological study exploring the lived mental health experience of Afro-Caribbean Canadian youth utilizing mental health services [Doctoral dissertation, York University]. YorkSpace. https://yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/items/6af8bb9b-c028-4358-99c0-75d36beb9d41

Engward, H., & Goldspink, S. (2020). Lodgers in the house: Living with the data in interpretive phenomenological analysis research. Reflective Proactive, 21(1), 41–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2019.1708305

Fante-Coleman, T., Booker, M., Craigg, A., Plummer, D., & Jackson-Best, F. (2022). Factors that impact how Black youth access the mental healthcare system in Ontario. Black Health Alliance, Pathways to Care Project. https://blackhealthalliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/pathways-to-care-focus-groupenglish-web-lu-6TF.pdf

Fante-Coleman, T., & Jackson-Best, F. (2020). Barriers and facilitators to accessing mental healthcare in Canada for Black youth: A scoping review. Adolescent Research Review, 5(2), 115–136. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-020-00133-2

Fegert, J. M., Vitiello, B., Plener, P. L., & Clemens, V. (2020). Challenges and burden of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for child and adolescent mental health: A narrative review to highlight clinical and research needs in the acute phase and the long return to normality. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 14, Article 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-020-00329-3

Garriguet, D. (2021, February 1). Portrait of youth in Canada: Data report; Chapter 1: Health of youth in Canada. Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 42-28-0001. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/42-28-0001/2021001/article/00001-eng.pdf

Harris-Britt, A., Valrie, C. R., Kurtz-Costes, B., & Rowley, S. J. (2007). Perceived racial discrimination and self-esteem in African American youth: Racial socialization as a protective factor. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 17(4), 669–682. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2007.00540.x

Hawke, L. D., Hayes, E., Darnay, K., & Henderson, J. (2021). Mental health among transgender and gender diverse youth: An exploration of effects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 8(2), 180–187. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000467

Hendricks, L., Edwards, W., Tietjen-Smith, T., & Reysen, S. (2021). College students’ awareness and familiarity with modern activism: Prosocial involvement in Black Lives Matter. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 32(4), 534–547. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2021.1924914

Hogarth, K., & Fletcher, W. L. (2018). A space for race: Decoding racism, multiculturalism, and post-colonialism in the quest for belonging in Canada and beyond. Oxford University Press.

Kaar, J. L., Bowen, A. E., Simon, S. L., Dadematthews, A., Chandrasekhar, J. L., Musci, R., & Pangelinan, M. (2023). A call to create evidence-based mental health promotion interventions for youth that are equitable across ethnic/racial subgroups: Advocates 4-ALL youth. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, Article 1139921. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1139921

Kafle, N. P. (2013). Hermeneutic phenomenological research method simplified. Bodhi: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 5(1), 181–200. https://doi.org/10.3126/bodhi.v5i1.8053

Kemei, J., & Salami, B. (2022). Understanding the health and well-being of Canadian Black children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic: A review. International Health Trends and Perspectives, 2(1), 118–128. https://doi.org/10.32920/ihtp.v2i1.1622

Kessler, R. C., Amminger, G. P., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Alonso, J., Lee, S., & Ustün, T. B. (2007). Age of onset of mental disorders: A review of recent literature. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 20(4), 359–364. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCO.0b013e32816ebc8c

Kolnes, L-J., & Rodriguez-Morales, L. (2016). The meaning of compulsive exercise in women with anorexia nervosa: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 10, 48–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2015.12.002.

Kourgiantakis, T., Markoulakis, R., Hussain, A., Lee, E., Ashcroft, R., Williams, C., Lau, C., Goldstein, A. L., Kodeeswaran, S., & Levitt, A. (2022). Navigating inequities in the delivery of youth mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives of youth, families, and service providers. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 113, 806–816. https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-022-00670-4

Krause, K. H., Mpofu, J. J., Underwood, J. M., & Ethier, K. A. (2022). The CDC’s adolescent behaviors and experiences survey: Using intersectionality and school connectedness to understand health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Adolescent Health, 70(5), 703–705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.02.001

Larkin, M., & Thompson, A. (2012). Interpretative phenomenological analysis. In A. Thompson & D. Harper (Eds.), Qualitative research methods in mental health and psychotherapy: A guide for students and practitioners (pp. 99–116). John Wiley & Sons.

Larkin, M., Watts, S., & Clifton, E. (2006). Giving voice and making sense in interpretative phenomenological analysis. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 102–120. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp062oa.

Lenoir, R., & Wong, K. K.-Y. (2023). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people from black and mixed ethnic groups' mental health in West London: a qualitative study. BMJ Open, 13(5), Article 071903. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071903

Lewis, S. (1992, June 9). Report of the advisor on race relations to the Premier of Ontario, Bob Rae. https://www.siu.on.ca/pdfs/report_of_the_advisor_on_race_relations_to_the_premier_of_ontario_bob_rae.pdf

McKinlay, A. R., May, T., Dawes, J., Fancourt, D., & Burton, A. (2022). “You're just there, alone in your room with your thoughts”: A qualitative study about the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among young people living in the UK. BMJ Open, 12(2), Article 053676. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053676

Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). (2020). Lockdown life: Mental health impacts of COVID-19 on youth in Canada. Health Canada.https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/wp-content/uploads/drupal/2021-02/lockdown_life_eng.pdf

Messias, E., Ugarte, L., Azasu, E., & White, A. J. (2023). A tsunami of concern: The lasting impacts of COVID isolation and school closures on youth mental health. Missouri Medicine: The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association, 120(5), 328–332. https://digitaleditions.walsworth.com/publication/?i=804777&p=6&view=issueViewer

Mpofu, J. J., Cooper, A. C., Ashley, C., Geda, S., Harding, R. L., Johns, M. M., Spinks-Franklin, A., Njai, R., Moyse, D., & Underwood, J. M. (2022). Perceived racism and demographic, mental health, and behavioral characteristics among high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic — Adolescent behaviors and experiences survey, United States, January–June 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 71(3), 22–27. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/116625

Offiong, A. (2021). A new normal is paramount for public health research and practice: A student perspective on COVID-19. American Journal of Public Health, 111(1), 83–84. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.306020

Osman, S., Aiello, O., Brouillette, K., Taylor, M., McKenzie, K., Renzaho, A. M. N., Henderson, J., Hamilton, H., & Salami, B. (2024). “Dual pandemics”: Intersecting influences of Anti-Black racism and the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Black youth. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/08445621241253116

Pascal, J. (2010). Phenomenology as a research method for social work contexts: Understanding the lived experience of cancer survival. Currents: Scholarship in the Human Services, 9(2). https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/currents/article/view/15905

Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Sage.

Pietkiewicz, I., & Smith, J. A. (2014). A practical guide to using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in qualitative research psychology. Czasopismo Psychologiczne Psychological Journal, 20(1), 7–14. https://doi.org/10.14691/CPPJ.20.1.7

Rose, T., Lindsey, M. A., Xiao, Y., Finigan-Carr, N. M., & Joe, S. (2017). Mental health and educational experiences among Black youth: A latent class analysis. Journal of youth and adolescence, 46(11), 2321–2340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-017-0723-3

Saldaña, J. (2013). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (2nd ed.). Sage.

Salami, B., Idi, Y., Anyieth, Y., Cyuzuzo, L., Denga, B., Alaazi, D. A., & Okeke-Ihejirika, P. (2022). Factors that contribute to the mental health of Black youth. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 194(41), E1404–E1410. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.212142

Smith, J. A., Larkin, M., & Flowers, P. (2009). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, method and research. Sage.

Solórzano, D. G., & Bernal, D. D. (2001). Examining transformational resistance through a critical race and latcrit theory framework: Chicana and Chicano students in an urban context. Urban Education, 36(3), 308-342. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085901363002

Solórzano, D. G., & Yosso, T. J. (2002). Critical race methodology: Counter-storytelling as an analytical framework for education research. Qualitative Inquiry, 8(1), 23-44. https://doi.org/10.1177/107780040200800103

Sostre, J. P., Abreu, R. L., Vincent, D., Lockett, G. M., & Mosley, D. V. (2023). Young Black trans and gender-diverse activists’ well-being among anti-Black racism and cissexism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000627

Thakur, H., Stutts, M., Choi, J. W., Temple, J. R., & Cohen, J. R. (2023). Adolescent loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of pre-pandemic risk factors. Child Indicators Research, 16, 617–639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-022-09984-8

Tracy, S. J. (2010). Qualitative quality: Eight “Big-Tent” criteria for excellent qualitative research. Qualitative Inquiry, 16(10), 837–851. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800410383121

Williams, M. T., Khanna Roy, A., MacIntyre, M.-P., & Faber, S. (2022). The traumatizing impact of racism in Canadians of colour. Current Trauma Reports, 8, 17–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40719-022-00225-5

World Health Organization, Europe. (n.d.). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: Overview. Retrieved November 20, 2024 from https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/situations/covid-19#