Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Program Name/Specialization

Community Psychology

Faculty/School

Faculty of Arts

First Advisor

Dr. Maritt Kirst

Advisor Role

Associate Professor, Community Psychology Program, Department of Psychology; Co-Director, Centre for Community Research, Learning, and Action (CCRLA) Director; Community Mental Health Research Interest Group, CCRLA

Abstract

The basis for long-term mental health, well-being and resilience is developed during childhood and adolescence. Youth aged 16-24 experience a multitude of challenges when accessing mental health resources due to their limited autonomy at that age, namely access to the transportation needed to attend in-person resources, access to the internet or technology needed for virtual resources, and familial and community values that may create stigma. Within the youth population, mental health diagnoses are significantly more prevalent among youth convicted of an offence. There is an unequivocal lack of research to review these population-specific barriers and facilitators to mental health resources from the perspectives of youth convicted of an offence, and it is paramount that we consider their impact on access, as a population most affected by this inaccessibility. This scoping review aims to explore and summarize what is currently known about the barriers that youth convicted of an offence face when accessing mental health resources in Canada and the United States, and how these resources can be implemented to provide more equitable access for this population. The reviewed literature identified several key barriers, including: lack of information and misinformation; communication and collaboration; financial challenges; adverse social, peer and familial influences; medical mistrust; limited services; lack of transitional support; racial, ethnic and gender bias; and the institution of juvenile detention. Facilitators to mental health resource access were discussed, such as integrated and individualized care, provider accountability, cultural competency, rehabilitation as a primary goal, adaptive options to access, and building social, peer and familial support. The results of this review have important implications for making mental health resources more accessible to youth and improving the conditions and outcomes of juvenile conviction. This review also highlights the need for more Canadian research on access to mental health resources for youth convicted of an offence.

Convocation Year

2025

Convocation Season

Fall

Download

Available for download on Friday, February 19, 2027

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