Funding outcome

Background. Poor mental health in youth is a major public health problem. Nearly one in three teenagers experience mental health problems each year, and suicide and drug overdoses are leading causes of death amongst youth. Factors such as income can impact the risk of suicide and overdose, even among youth. Research shows that differences in household income, known as income inequality, within neighbourhoods can contribute to the risk of deaths of despair, which include deaths due to suicide, alcohol-related liver disease, and drug overdoses; however, it is unclear if this is true amongst Canadian youth. My research will investigate income inequality in youth affects the risk of deaths of despair in Canada. Methods. I will use the Canadian Census and mortality records to determine if young people (ages 5 to 19) who live in areas that have higher levels of income inequality are more likely to die from deaths of despair than their peers who live in areas with lower levels of income inequality. It is possible that this effect will be different for girls and boys, so I will look at the relationship separately among girls and among boys. Expected results. I expect that young people living in higher income inequality areas will have a higher risk of deaths of despair over time, compared to those who live in areas with lower levels of income inequality. Conclusion. This work is important, because no existing studies have demonstrated if experiencing income inequality when you are young increases your risk of dying from deaths of despair. The results of this work can help to inform programs for reducing not only income inequality but also for reducing deaths of despair.