Abstract
Good mental health is a basic human right. Intrinsically, mental health is an essential part of the overall health of individuals in their quest to participate in activities within their environment. We examined empirical evidence on anti-Black racism and mental health in Black families and communities in Canada; and the extent to which anti-Black racism impacts the mental health of Black Canadians. We conducted a scoping review using five databases: Medline, PsycINFO, ProQuest Sociological Abstract, Google Scholar, and Google from 2013 to 2023 to understand the depth of empirical data on the subject matter in Canada. We used the methodological frameworks for scoping reviews by Arksey and O’Malley and Lavec and colleagues. Our review identified 17 empirical studies that produced four overarching themes— racial discrimination and mental health outcomes, racism-induced perceptions, everyday challenges, and systemic disparities. Racism and discrimination were acknowledged as direct and indirect barriers to mental health care, and with negative impacts that include early traumatic experiences for Black people. Addressing the mental health impacts of anti-Black racism requires further research and a coordinated multi-level approach to implementing policies that focus on the individual, community, and societal levels.