Currently submitted to: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Nov 27, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Nov 28, 2025 - Jan 23, 2026
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Mental Health Promotion among Black, Caribbean and African immigrants in Canada: a scoping review protocol
ABSTRACT
Black, Caribbean, and African (BCA) immigrant communities in Canada face systemic inequities that undermine their mental health and limit access to culturally relevant mental health promotion (MHP) strategies. While national policy frameworks increasingly recognize these disparities, there remains a lack of consolidated evidence on existing MHP programs and initiatives developed for, with, or by BCA populations. This scoping review aims to comprehensively map the landscape of MHP strategies, programs, and activities targeting BCA immigrant communities in Canada. It will identify barriers and facilitators influencing implementation and uptake and illuminate gaps in research, policy, and practice. Guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework, the review will draw on six databases Medline (OVID) APA PsychINFO (OVID), EMBASE (OVID), PubMed, CINAHL Plus (EBSCOhost), and Google Scholar, and include grey literature such as community reports and government-funded initiatives. The eligibility criteria focus on English-language sources addressing MHP or mental illness prevention within the Canadian BCA immigrant context. Data will be charted in duplicate and analyzed descriptively then organized using tables and narrative synthesis to highlight thematic trends and opportunities for system transformation. The implications of this review are far-reaching. It will inform evidence-based policy development, support culturally responsive service design, and contribute to equity-driven public health practices. Moreover, it seeks to validate community-led innovations and knowledge systems that are often excluded from formal research. By illuminating both the strengths and silences in current MHP efforts, this study will guide future research and action toward a more inclusive, just, and culturally grounded mental health landscape in Canada.
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