USask to study unintended consequences of COVID-19 among equity-seeking groups to 'build back better' after pandemic

The CIHR-funded project will apply a social justice lens to examine the pandemic’s impact on the mental health, substance use (opioids), food insecurity and precarious housing situations among equity-seeking groups such as Indigenous citizens, new immigrants and minorities. People who identify themselves as being evicted, experienced food insecurity, increased their use of substances or suffered greatly with mental health issues during COVID-19 will be interviewed to understand the impact of pandemic outcomes on them and those who live with them. The researchers will also contact service-provider organizations to gather information on whether persons of colour, Indigenous citizens, or other vulnerable groups were disproportionately affected. The lead researcher hopes that understanding how these impacts might have been exacerbated by existing social inequities and inequalities across groups will guide recommendations on how to “build back better” after the pandemic.