A Phenomenological Study Exploring the Lived Mental Health Experiences of Afro-Caribbean Canadian Youth Utilizing Mental Health Services

Little is known about the mental health experiences of Black youth, especially those from the Afro-Caribbean community, due to a paucity of studies within the Canadian context and a lack of Black youth mental health perspectives. To respond to this gap, this study explored the lived mental health experiences of Afro-Caribbean Canadian youth (ACCY) aged 16–18 who use mental health services. This helped gain their perspectives on their mental health experiences in Southern Ontario urban areas. This study was informed by post-colonial theory and critical race theory (CRT) and the concept of anti-Black racism (ABR). An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) rooted in Heideggerian hermeneutic was utilized to respond to the main research question and three sub-questions. Data were collected from 13 participants comprising four groups: six ACCY; three faith-based leaders; two mental health workers; and two parents. Overall, 10 females and three males participated in the study; the three males were all ACCY.

One of the significant findings from this study revealed that ACCY understand their mental health experiences as an invalidation of their knowledge, feelings, and emotions and who they are as Black youth. ACCY reported that they were invalidated within key institutions and in their home environment, which negatively impacted their mental health and well-being. However, the adult participants understood the mental health experiences of ACCY differently from the youth. They understood that ACCY’s mental health experiences were misunderstood as deviant behaviours and ACCY’s behaviours were criminalized rather than recognized as mental health issues to be addressed. This study found that the invalidation and misunderstanding of the mental health experience of ACCY within dominant institutions were race-based and resulted from experiences of systemic and pervasive ABR. I argue that systemic ABR is the root cause of the mental health experiences of ACCY being invalidated. In terms of ACCY’s access to and use of mental health services, the study identified a dual pipeline: a school-to-mental health pipeline and a prison-to-mental health pipeline. ACCY prefer to access mental health services from Black mental health workers who understand them and can validate their lived experiences with systemic ABR and identity as Black youth.

This dissertation concludes with recommendations for social work and restructuring the key institutions by addressing pervasive ABR within them to centre Black youth’s mental health, give them the opportunity to voice, help them affirm racial pride, and include them in full participation in Canadian life by nurturing a sense of belonging.