BMC Psychiatry
Volume 14, Issue 1, 2014

Differential experiences of discrimination among ethnoracially diverse persons experiencing mental illness and homelessness (Article) (Open Access)

Zerger S. , Bacon S. , Corneau S. , Skosireva A. , McKenzie K. , Gapka S. , O Campo P. , Sarang A. , Stergiopoulos V.*
  • a Li KaShing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Centre for Research on Inner City Health, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1N8, Canada
  • b Li KaShing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Centre for Research on Inner City Health, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1N8, Canada
  • c Université du Québec à Montréal, 405 Rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montréal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada
  • d Li KaShing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Centre for Research on Inner City Health, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1N8, Canada
  • e Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Health Services and Health Equity Research, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
  • f Li KaShing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Centre for Research on Inner City Health, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1N8, Canada
  • g Li KaShing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Centre for Research on Inner City Health, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1N8, Canada, University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, 55 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
  • h Across Boundaries: An Ethno-racial Mental Health Centre, 51 Clarkson Ave, Toronto, ON M6E 2T5, Canada
  • i Li KaShing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Centre for Research on Inner City Health, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1N8, Canada, University of Toronto, Department of Psychiatry, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada

Abstract

Background: This mixed methods study explored the characteristics of and experiences with perceived discrimination in an ethnically diverse urban sample of adults experiencing homelessness and mental illness. Methods: Data were collected in Toronto, Ontario, as part of a 4-year national randomized field trial of the Housing First treatment model. Rates of perceived discrimination were captured from survey questions regarding perceived discrimination among 231 ethnoracially diverse participants with moderate mental health needs. The qualitative component included thirty six in-depth interviews which explored how individuals who bear these multiple identities of oppression navigate stigma and discrimination, and what affects their capacity to do so. Results: Quantitative analysis revealed very high rates of perceived discrimination related to: homelessness/poverty (61.5%), race/ethnicity/skin colour (50.6%) and mental illness/substance use (43.7%). Immigrants and those who had been homeless three or more years reported higher perceived discrimination on all three domains. Analysis of qualitative interviews revealed three common themes related to navigating these experiences of discrimination among participants: 1) social distancing; 2) old and new labels/identities; and, 3) 'homeland' cultures. Conclusions: These study findings underscore poverty and homelessness as major sources of perceived discrimination, and expose underlying complexities in the navigation of multiple identities in responding to stigma and discrimination. © Zerger et al.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

personal experience social distance immigrant mental health service Continental Population Groups ancestry group mental health human middle aged Ethnic Groups ethnic group controlled study randomized controlled trial Aged substance abuse ethnology mini international neuropsychiatric interview Mental Disorders mental disease Young Adult skin color Humans racism psychology male Canada female Social Stigma race prevalence Article Ontario major clinical study adult Homeless Persons ethnicity quantitative analysis homelessness
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84924063742&doi=10.1186%2fs12888-014-0353-1&partnerID=40&md5=d18255fa34ca1d01b361a4337d1386e9
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-014-0353-1
ISSN: 1471244X
Cited by: 19
Original Language: English