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By: Miguel Amante

Across Ontario and at CAMH, oppression of and disadvantage against Black communities is evidenced by ongoing racial disparities in mental health and well-being. Black people in the Greater Toronto Area are more likely to report poor mental health than people who are not Black, and Black people in Ontario are more likely to access mental health care through emergency or police services. Simply stated, discrimination and oppression based on race delays care and harms individuals on their ways to recovery.

Racism also has a negative impact on the quality of work life for Black staff in health care. Beyond the damaging emotional and psychological consequences, it limits their career trajectory and precludes their ability to safely and fully participate in an environment where they can thrive.

That's why in February, CAMH launched Dismantling Anti-Black Racism, in consultation with an external community advisory group. The strategy includes 22 actions to decrease anti-Black racism at CAMH by 2022, outlining a plan to accomplish the following:  

• ensure safe, accessible and equitable care for Black patients and families;
• build an equitable working environment for Black staff; and,
• eliminate unfair treatment for Black populations within CAMH and across the mental health system.

The strategy will continue to evolve over time and includes clear and measureable goals to dismantle anti-Black racism at CAMH.

"Systemic racism is a barrier to high quality health care for Black patients—at CAMH and across the health care system," said CAMH President and CEO Dr. Catherine Zahn. "This can't be tolerated. Black individuals and communities have a right to equitable access for high quality health care. Our staff has the right to a workplace that acknowledges and addresses this burden of inequity."

In a recent analysis of CAMH data, rates of restraint use were 44 per cent higher among Black patients than among white patients. These disparities are real and demand our full attention and immediate action. Without addressing these disparities, CAMH's vision, Health Redefined, cannot come to fruition.

"Growing evidence from Canadian studies and from our own analysis of CAMH data shows differences in the risk of mental illness and outcomes of care for Black populations," said Dr. Kwame McKenzie, CAMH Director of Health Equity. "Unfair and unjust treatment have no place in our mental health system and CAMH is committed to ensuring that anti-Black racism is eliminated."

Dismantling Anti-Black Racism was developed with the guidance of the Anti-Black Racism and Mental Health Advisory Committee, an external group of Black mental health leaders that offers support to CAMH on confronting anti-Black racism at the hospital. Internally, CAMH has also formed an Anti-Black Racism committee, a grassroots group of staff members with support from senior leadership, leading important internal initiatives to dismantle anti-Black racism for staff at the hospital.  

"CAMH has a lot of work to do," said Dr. Zahn. "Our health care system was built on a foundation of racism. Dismantling the structures that uphold this is a priority for CAMH. I hope that our work can stand as a model of learning for system-wide change as we work together to eliminate anti-Black racism right here and right now."

To read the full strategy, Dismantling Anti-Black Racism click here.

To read an overview of the 22 actions to decreased anti-Black racism at CAMH by 2022, click here.