Despite the disparities, only 38.3% of Black Canadian residents with poor or fair self-reported mental health used mental health services compared with 50.8% white Canadian residents (between 2001 and 2014). In a 2018 survey of 328 Black Canadian residents, 95.1% felt that the underutilization of mental health services by Black Canadian residents was an issue that needed to be addressed (FAHMAS Foundation, 2020). 

Addressing these disparities requires multi-faceted and systems-wide interventions which include the social determinants of health.  However, there is much that health systems can do to improve access to and outcomes from treatment.  Partnerships between CAMH and community-based organizations, such as the Wellness Connection, are a proven model that have shown promising results. This model successfully leveraged targeted culturally adapted programs and psychotherapy services leading to improved experiences and outcomes for Black clients.  Learnings from such work have informed the launch of a revised manual on Culturally Adapted CBT or Black populations which aims to provide one avenue to advance mental health equity in Canada (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2016).