Statistics Canada published a new report, Softening the blow of discrimination: The role of social connections in mitigating the harms associated with racism and discrimination. Based on the Survey Series on People and their Communities, the report provides a profile of the self-reported experiences of discrimination against racialized people in Canada, looking at the prevalence and nature of discrimination based on race or ethnicity, and the risk factors associated with it. The study examines the relationship of discrimination with wellbeing and perceptions of Canadian society, and how these possible effects are mitigated by victims’ connections with family and friends.
According to the research, nearly half of all racialized Canadians (45%) reported experiencing discrimination over the past five years. Among those who reported experiencing discrimination, one-third (33%) reported having a high level of life satisfaction (scoring 8 or higher on a 10-point scale). This proportion increased to 47% among victims with strong family connections and to 49% for those with strong friend connections. The rate of self-reported fair or poor mental health in 2023/2024 was almost double among victims of discrimination (24%) compared with non-victims (13%). Statistics Canada reported that victims of unfair treatment, exclusion, physical threats or attacks or verbal attacks were about equally likely to report having fair or poor mental health.
For further insights or to download the report, click here.