Areas for further research

More information on the lives of people with mental health and addiction disabilities could be collected on other variables. For example, contact with the criminal justice system is an important indicator of marginalization and social exclusion.^[42] Similarly, knowing what proportion of this group live in collective dwellings (such as hospitals, group homes and lodging houses) or are homeless across Ontario would provide a better understanding of their housing needs.  

Also, without data on Indigenous peoples who live on reserves, a complete picture cannot be created of the lives of Indigenous peoples with mental health, addiction and other disabilities.

The results on low income merit more specific research to better understand the relationship between mental health and low income. People with disabilities overall are more likely to be in low income status than people without disabilities, due to their lower labour force participation.^[43] However, when controlling for disability type, mental health and addiction disabilities appear to be highly correlated with being in low income and other disabilities less so. In fact, the results show that a lower proportion of people with other disabilities are in low income status than people without disabilities. This trend has been noted in other Statistics Canada data^[44] but requires further examination.

The finding that racialized people in Ontario report lower prevalence of mental health and addiction disabilities compared to non-racialized people and Indigenous peoples needs further examination. It appears to contrast with research that finds that structural barriers such as poverty, low-socioeconomic status, inadequate and unaffordable housing, unemployment and underemployment disproportionately affect racialized people. These factors also negatively affect mental health.^[45] Several studies have also found that self-reported racism is associated with negative mental health outcomes.^[46]  

Another area of research involves further data collection to monitor discrimination, including people’s perceptions of discrimination in Code-protected social areas such as housing and services. Additional questions could be asked about the types of discrimination people experience, factors that can protect people against discrimination, and how people access justice. For example, how commonly do people with mental health disabilities and addictions experience harassment? Are there intersections between discrimination based on a person’s disability and another Code-related identity, such as race or sex? What factors make it easier to disclose a disability and request accommodation? How do people typically seek redress (if at all) when they have been discriminated against?

Note that documenting people’s perceptions of discrimination is limited in that it cannot lead to conclusions about actual incidence rates of discrimination. Measuring discrimination is very difficult, as it can be explained by multiple factors. Studies that may be able to better monitor discrimination use methods that look at people’s behaviour in real-life or constructed situations to assess whether groups are treated differently based on Code grounds.^[47]

Overall, the findings in this report have implications for policy and research involving Ontarians with mental health, addiction and other disabilities. They provide support for further research on disparities and solutions. They also provide a supportive rationale for organizations to put in place methods to prevent and respond to systemic discrimination. These methods include reviewing and removing barriers, incorporating inclusive design approaches, developing human rights policies and designing special programs (such as hiring and housing programs) that respond to the unique needs of people with mental health, addiction and other disabilities.