Exploring Mental Health Distress, Demographics, and Service Utilization Patterns Among South Asian and Non-South Asian Youth Accessing Integrated Youth Services in British Columbia, Canada: Exploration de la détresse mentale, des données démographiques et des tendances d'utilisation des services chez les jeunes d'origine sud-asiatique et non sud-asiatique qui ont recours aux services intégrés pour les jeunes en Colombie-Britannique, au Canada.

ObjectivesTo understand the mental health distress, demographics and service utilization patterns among South Asian and non-South Asian youth accessing integrated youth services (IYS) in British Columbia (BC), Canada.MethodsThis study used data from youth accessing services at the BC-IYS (Foundry) between April 2018 and October 2023. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic and service utilization data, with categorical variables compared using chi-squared tests and continuous variables using t-tests. A linear regression model examined the relationship between ethnicity (South Asian vs. non-South Asian) and mental health distress measured by Kessler Distress Scale (K10), stratified by gender [cisgender and transgender and non-conforming (TGNC)].ResultsThe study included 30,016 youth, among whom 5.5% (n = 1,652) were South Asian. South Asian youth had higher distress levels (Average K10 score: 32.1 vs. 31.3, P < 0.001) and lower mental health service utilization within the past year (57.1% vs. 48.4%) compared to non-south Asian youth. They were also more likely to use virtual services (30.2% vs. 19.4%). For gender, 94.5% of South Asian youth identified as cisgender and 5.1% as TGNC, compared to 14% TGNC in non-South Asians (P < 0.001). Regression analyses showed a significant association between ethnicity and mental health distress. This was amplified within the TGNC strata for South Asian participants compared to non-South Asian youth (B = 2.00, 95% CI, 0.35 to 3.66, P = 0.018). Younger age was associated with higher levels of mental health distress among South Asian youth in both gender strata: cisgender (B = -0.07, 95% CI, -0.10 to -0.03, P < 0.001) and TGNC (B = -0.14, 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.06, P < 0.001).ConclusionThis study reveals that South Asian youth accessing services from the BC-IYS experience higher levels of mental distress compared to non-South Asian youth. The findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive mental health services, education and policies to improve outcomes for South Asian youth in BC.