Mental Health and Service Issues Faced by Older Immigrants in Canada: A Scoping Review

An aging population and immigration-based population growth necessitate research, practice, and policy focusing on the mental health of older immigrants in Canada, especially, because their mental health appears to deteriorate over time. This review focuses on: What is known about the social determinants of mental health for older immigrants in Canada and what are the barriers they face in accessing mental health services? Findings reveal that: (1) the key social determinants of mental health are culture, health services and gender; (2) older immigrants use fewer mental health services than their Canadian-born counterparts due to cultural beliefs, lack of culturally and linguistically-appropriate services, financial difficulties, and ageism; and (3) regardless of the subcategories within this population, older immigrants experience mental health inequities. The research evidence provides a clear message that addressing mental health service gaps for older immigrants should be a policy and practice priority for Canada's health care system.