Project 466741

Despite an extensive effort to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, some populations were hit harder by the COVID-19 and have been facing additional barriers to coping with its effect on their health and wellness. Visible minorities, who often include immigrants and refugees have been disproportionately exposed to and affected by the COVID-19. Especially, the visible minority essential workers who are crucial for the countrys infrastructure including healthcare, law enforcement sector, retail food, transportation, and others were affected the most. They have been reported more anxious, depressed, and sadder than their non-minority counterparts. Using a mixed method approach comprising a secondary analysis of Mental Health Research Canada polls and interview, we intend to identify the mental health problems the visible minority essential workers are facing due to pandemic, the root causes of the mental health effects (e.g., suffering from long-COVID, loss of loved ones due to COVID-19, loss of job/income, etc.), and their coping mechanism. The findings of the study will help develop appropriate support strategies for affected and at-risk visible minority essential workers.