Research

From “nobody's clapping for us” to “bad moms”: COVID-19 and the circle of childcare in Canada

Simon Fraser University

"The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of childcare to national economies in general and women's economic participation in particular, spurring renewed interest in childcare policy in many countries that have implemented lockdowns. This paper adopts a circle of care framework to analyzes how COVID-19 has affected paid childcare, unpaid childcare and other paid work, and the relationship between these sectors."

Topics: COVID-19Provider perspectivesGender

“I may be essential but someone has to look after my kids”: women physicians and COVID-19

Simon Fraser University

"This paper analyzes results from focus groups held with women physicians in British Columbia which explored questions around how gender norms and roles influenced their experiences during COVID-19."

Topics: COVID-19Provider perspectivesGender

Invisible No More

"Over 80% of the healthcare workforce in BC are women, and many are also racialized. These workers often fill ‘forgotten’ roles like care-aides, midwives, social workers, technicians, and food services and janitorial staff. Despite being critical for our healthcare sector, they experience invisible barriers on a daily basis including racism, inadequate support, low pay, and limited access to decision making... This report peels back the compounding layers of inequities impacting healthcare workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Topics: Provider perspectivesCOVID-19Gender

Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of sexual and gender diverse communities in Canada: A community-based participatory approach

University of Victoria

Through a survey and community consultations, this study explored the societal factors that contribute to the mental health of SGD communities within Canada throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Topics: 2S/LGBTQ+

The influence of sex, gender, age, and ethnicity on psychosocial factors and substance use throughout phases of the COVID-19 pandemic

University of British Columbia and Women's Health Research Institute

In progress

This study used a gender-based analysis to determine the prevalence of psychosocial symptoms and substance use by age, ethnicity, income, rurality, education level, Indigenous status, and sexual orientation.

Topics: COVID-19People of colour2S/LGBTQ+

FOCUS

University of British Columbia

The FOCUS survey is a mixed-methods study that explores trends in the sexual health, substance use, and mental health-related outcomes among young adults in Canada and France in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Topics: COVID-19Youth

Heads Together/Tête-à-Tête

University of British Columbia

The Heads Together/Tête-à-Tête study is a quantitative Canadian online survey aiming to describe alcohol and cannabis use, and mental health outcomes among sexual and gender minorities living in Canada, within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Topics: COVID-192S/LGBTQ+

Digital Interventions to Support Population Mental Health in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Rapid Review

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

The study aimed to determine “what digital interventions could be used to support the mental health of the Canadian general population during the COVID-19 pandemic?”

Topics: Virtual care

Technology and Equitable Access for Mental Healthcare in a post-COVID Asia Pacific (TEAM-CAP)

University of British Columbia

In progress

This study uses mixed-methods data to identify populations experiencing elevated risk of negative mental health impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic , factors contributing to elevated risk, and barriers to care access throughout the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region (i.e., 21 countries including Canada).

Topics: COVID-19

Assessing the Impacts of COVID-19 on Mental Health National Monitoring Survey

University of British Columbia

This national survey, which involved three rounds of data collection, explores whose mental health is most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the pandemic is interfacing with existing health, social, and structural inequities to widen mental health inequities.

Topics: COVID-192S/LGBTQ+Youth

Sex in the Time of COVID-19

BC Centre for Disease Control

We investigated self-reported mental health during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic (March-May 2020), using a survey of HIV-testing and sexual health service clients from British Columbia, Canada (N=1198). Over half (55%) reported their mental health as poor at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than double that of the general Canadian population in the same time frame (22%). Acknowledging that this burden of poor mental health that is likely to persist in the coming years, we propose that sexual health clinics should facilitate access to mental health supports as a low-barrier point of primary care contact.

Topics: 2S/LGBTQ+COVID-19IndigenousPeople of colourYouth

Service provider perspectives on tools to improve access to mental health supports for sexual and gender diverse populations: A qualitative research study

Simon Fraser University

Experiences of stigma, shame, and anxiety were heightened during the pandemic. Isolation and lack of access to identity affirming services and interactions negatively impacted mental health. Various inequities exist in accessing remote mental health services during the pandemic, including privacy/safety concerns, technological challenges, and negative perceptions of these services. There was also a lack of clarity of operating mental health services during the pandemic. Opportunities for mental healthcare in the context of remote services exist during the pandemic as well, including providing access to those otherwise unable to access physical services, decreased likelihood of experiencing social stigma, and more convenience for accessing remote services.

Topics: Provider perspectives2S/LGBTQ+Virtual careCOVID-19Service user perspectives

BC COVID-19 SPEAK (Survey on Population Experience, Actions, and Knowledge) Survey

BC Centre for Disease Control

The survey asked BC residents about their experiences, knowledge and actions early in the COVID-19 pandemic, including risk perception and impacts of COVID-19 such as social, economic, physical health, mental wellness and community resiliency.

Topics: COVID-19

Interventions-Substance Use Rolling Cohort

BC Centre on Substance Use and University of British Columbia

In progress

The study aimed to determine how sexual and gender minority youth have navigated substance use, mental health and sexual health through the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health directives.

Topics: 2S/LGBTQ+Youth

SUKI-Wave 2

BC Centre on Substance Use and University of British Columbia

In progress

The study aimed to determine what key adaptations have been made to services and programs during the overlapping public health emergencies in BC.

Topics: 2S/LGBTQ+