How to use race-based data to advance mental health equity

Published: May 17, 2022

Race-based data can help agencies measure existing inequities, make changes and evaluate progress to improve mental health equity and outcomes for racialized clients. However, as of 2021, fewer than one third of Ontario’s child and youth mental health and addictions agencies actively collected and used race-based data on staff and clients. Many report not knowing quite where to begin or how to proceed. This primer explains the ethics related to using race-based data and provides guidance on how to effectively collect, manage and analyze this data. It also recommends tips and tools to help agencies put the data into action and monitor and evaluate those actions.