Identifying Mental Health Issues in Indian Immigrants in Canada: A Comparison with Non-Indian Immigrants

Much of the literature on the mental health of immigrants tends to generalize, treating all immigrants as one category, and not accounting for how life experiences in the country of origin can shape mental health. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to contrast the differences in self-rated mental health between Indian immigrants and non-Indian immigrants based on immigration-related factors, sociodemographic factors and health and healthcare utilization-related factors. Cross-sectional data from two cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey were analyzed. Logistic regression models were analyzed to assess self-reported mental health and those reporting a mood or anxiety disorder. Results provide support for the healthy immigrant effect and find that immigrating in later life is advantageous for mental health for Indian immigrants. Having a lower income, a smaller household, and living in a rural area are associated with good mental health among Indian immigrants, but not among all immigrants. Being male does not have the same protective effect against mental health concerns in Indian immigrants as it does in all immigrants. Results demonstrate the need to study immigrant groups by their country of origin and how life experiences in a particular country shape immigrant mental health differently from country to country.