Funding outcome

Mental illness is a major issue in Canada, with one in five Canadians experiencing a mental illness during their lifetime. Those with mental illness are more likely to develop other health conditions, such as heart disease, and die prematurely compared to the general population. Women in particular are at high risk for depression and anxiety, especially among mothers who are young, less educated, and have lower income. Aside from these individual characteristics, the risk of mental illness among mothers could be influenced by where they live. Income inequality, or the gap between the rich and the poor, within the mothers' neighbourhoods could have negative impacts on their mental health. That is to say, the larger the gap between the rich and the poor in a given neighbourhood, the more likely those who live there could suffer from mental illness. The aim of this study is to investigate the links between income inequality within Calgary neighbourhoods and mothers' mental health over time. I will use mental health data collected between 2009 and 2015 from Calgarian mothers aged 19 to 47 years by the All Our Families long-term study. Since this information was gathered from mothers starting at pregnancy all the way through to five years after giving birth, I will be able to track changes in the mothers' depression and anxiety and observe any changes over time. By working with a diverse team of researchers, geographers, health practitioners, and the mothers themselves, I plan to generate knowledge that will be useful for those who are striving to improve mental health in Canada. This study will create a solid foundation for future projects aimed at developing interventions to minimize the negative effects of income inequality on health outcomes. The results of this study will also provide policy makers and health providers with valuable information on how to deal with the complex challenges of improving the mental health of women and children.