Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on racialized communities and individuals in Canada. Methods: This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and the PRISMA-ScR guidance on reporting scoping reviews. Ovid MEDLINE ALL, Embase Classic + Embase, CINAHL (Ebsco platform), PsycINFO, and Cochrane were searched for documents that were published after March 2020 and that reported on the social and economic impacts and health outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic on generally healthy racialized populations that reside in Canada. Synthesis: A total of 39 documents were included in this review. Our results show racialized communities faced greater social, economic, and health impacts from the pandemic. These impacts were manifested in the form of high COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates, increased discrimination, worsening mental health, difficulty in accessing healthcare, and challenges related to accessing food and basic necessities. Conclusion: Canadian racialized groups have been inequitably affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to pre-existing inequalities and emerging discrimination. Responsive policy action and robust pandemic preparedness efforts are indispensable in adopting a proactive stance to prevent racialized populations from bearing a disproportionate burden of negative health crises in the future. This necessitates addressing pre-existing disparities and targeting social and economic vulnerability areas. By doing so, we can mitigate the reported social, economic, and health impacts experienced by racialized groups, including challenges related to accessing basic necessities, deteriorating mental health, and barriers to healthcare access.

Black people represent one of the fastest-growing populations in Canada and continue to experience health inequities driven by anti-Black racism, structura

Evidence indicates disparities in mental health outcomes among Black youth compared to other racial and ethnic groups. These disparities may be related to gaps in the quality of mental health services and inadequate culturally safe practices, which hinder the ability to appropriately support the mental health needs of Black youth. This study aimed to develop a guidance document with recommendations for the delivery of mental health services for Black youth in Canada, focusing on community, primary care, and educational settings, informed by a knowledge synthesis and the perspectives of Black youth in Canada. A participatory research approach was used, consisting of five phases: (1) establishment of an advisory committee, (2) a scoping review, (3) development of a draft guidance document, (4) four focus groups involving 18 Black youth participants, and (5) integration of youth perspectives into the final guidance document. The final document included recommendations across four stages of mental health service delivery: Preparation (16 recommendations), Assessment and Diagnosis (22 recommendations), Intervention (23 recommendations), and Evaluation (5 recommendations). Of the 66 recommendations, 11 emerged exclusively from the focus groups and 18 were informed by both the literature review and focus groups. These recommendations provide consistent guidance for more equitable mental healthcare and represent a step toward broader social equity and inclusion in Canada.

Social Determinants of Health are linked to health outcomes. Racial discrimination can lead to marginalization, poor quality of care, and racial inequities