Article type
Abstract
"Background: Socioeconomic status profoundly impacts women's mental health, with those living in poverty encountering more significant obstacles in accessing care despite governmental efforts. It is necessary to explore mental health service access for low-income women. Synthesizing qualitative evidence to understand the experience of these women when attempting to access care is valuable and will enable recommendations for systemic improvements that address their needs—an increasingly prominent research and policy area.
Objectives: To assess and synthesize the available qualitative evidence regarding the experiences of access to mental services for women living on a low income in Canada.
Methods: We used the JBI methodology for the synthesis of qualitative evidence. Keyword and subject searches were done in 13 databases (e.g., MEDLINE and CINAHL) to find relevant English and French papers from 2013 to 2023. Two independent reviewers completed the title and abstract screening, and full-text review. Seventeen studies were included in the review. Quality assessment and data extraction were completed by two reviewers independently.
Results: Our review highlights the challenges Canadian women living in poverty face when accessing mental healthcare. These are compounded by long wait times, a shortage of professionals, and a lack of personalized care. Systemic and structural barriers also significantly impede access for Indigenous, immigrant, refugee, and intimate partner violence survivor women, underscoring the need for accessible, culturally sensitive care.
Conclusion: Our review reveals the significant barriers faced by women living in poverty when accessing mental health services in Canada. Addressing these barriers requires efforts at both federal and provincial levels to ensure equitable mental healthcare access for all women. Our analysis aims to contribute to the discourse on mental health service accessibility in Canada, particularly for this often-overlooked group. Through this work, we seek to drive action and change for more inclusive, effective mental healthcare for all Canadians.
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Objectives: To assess and synthesize the available qualitative evidence regarding the experiences of access to mental services for women living on a low income in Canada.
Methods: We used the JBI methodology for the synthesis of qualitative evidence. Keyword and subject searches were done in 13 databases (e.g., MEDLINE and CINAHL) to find relevant English and French papers from 2013 to 2023. Two independent reviewers completed the title and abstract screening, and full-text review. Seventeen studies were included in the review. Quality assessment and data extraction were completed by two reviewers independently.
Results: Our review highlights the challenges Canadian women living in poverty face when accessing mental healthcare. These are compounded by long wait times, a shortage of professionals, and a lack of personalized care. Systemic and structural barriers also significantly impede access for Indigenous, immigrant, refugee, and intimate partner violence survivor women, underscoring the need for accessible, culturally sensitive care.
Conclusion: Our review reveals the significant barriers faced by women living in poverty when accessing mental health services in Canada. Addressing these barriers requires efforts at both federal and provincial levels to ensure equitable mental healthcare access for all women. Our analysis aims to contribute to the discourse on mental health service accessibility in Canada, particularly for this often-overlooked group. Through this work, we seek to drive action and change for more inclusive, effective mental healthcare for all Canadians.
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