OTTAWA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The prevalence of anxiety disorders was higher among Indigenous people than the non-Indigenous and non-racialized population in Canada, Statistics Canada said on Wednesday.
According to a study named "Anxiety disorders among older Canadians: Focus on Indigenous and racialized population groups," Indigenous males were found to have 1.5 times higher odds of anxiety disorders than non-Indigenous and non-racialized males.
The poor mental health outcomes of Indigenous people may be due to several factors including historical and intergenerational trauma, socioeconomic disparities, and persistent inequities in access to health care services, said the national statistical agency.
Findings of this study highlight the importance of considering Indigenous and racialized population groups in examining anxiety disorder among older Canadians to inform screening, service provision, and intervention programs, said the agency.
On average, six percent of older Canadians reported a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder from 2015 to 2022, with females more likely than males to have done so, said Statistics Canada.
