Abstract
An online survey of 682 people, 41.3% of whom were immigrants, compared child mental health service needs and use between immigrants and Canadian-born parents. The survey also assessed the expressed need for child mental health support, parental utilization of services, methods of accessing information, and the presence of other support systems. We found a significant underuse of child mental health services among immigrant participants (1.5 times less use) despite a higher reported child need. This disparity was most pronounced in the use of child psychologists, family physicians and other allied health professionals. Results also showed that immigrant and non-immigrant parents used informational platforms at comparable frequencies. An examination of personal support systems showed immigrant parents struggling with their child's mental health and behaviour were less likely to seek support from other Canadians. They also reported less support from their significant other and friends. These findings highlight the importance of considering cultural background in clinical approaches to child mental health and the need for targeted interventions to improve accessibility and utilization of mental health services to ensure health equity.