Exploring Food Security and Mental Health Among Street-Involved Canadian 2S/LGBTQI+ Youth: A Review of the Literature
Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
7 June 2024
Abstract
The purpose of this literature review is to evaluate the extant research addressing food insecurity and mental health among street-involved 2S/LGBTQI+ youth in Canada. Searches were undertaken in academic databases, Google, and Google Scholar for relevant research articles, reports, and grey literature. Our team found nil research specifically addressing food insecurity and the mental health of street-involved 2S/LGBTQI+ youth in Canada. Given that, contextual and contributory factors affecting the mental health and food security of this population are discussed. The available research demonstrates a significant misalignment between the existing support mechanisms and the requirements of this specific population. This underscores the urgent necessity for the establishment of structurally competent, safe, and easily accessible resources. Moreover, there is a clear imperative for additional research endeavors aimed at addressing knowledge deficiencies. These efforts are crucial in empowering dietitians to facilitate enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration, thereby fostering the creation of sustainable, accessible, and appropriate food systems tailored to the needs of this vulnerable demographic.
Résumé
L’objectif de cette revue de la littérature est d’évaluer les recherches existantes sur l’insécurité alimentaire et la santé mentale chez les jeunes 2ELGBTQI+ de la rue au Canada. Des recherches ont été effectuées dans des bases de données universitaires, Google et Google Scholar pour trouver des articles de recherche, des rapports et de la littérature grise pertinents. Notre équipe n’a trouvé aucune recherche traitant spécifiquement de l’insécurité alimentaire et de la santé mentale des jeunes 2ELGBTQI+ de la rue au Canada. À la lumière de ce constat, les facteurs contextuels et contributifs affectant la santé mentale et la sécurité alimentaire de cette population sont discutés. La recherche portant sur ces facteurs indique que les mesures de soutien existantes ne répondent pas adéquatement aux besoins de cette population et que des ressources structurellement compétentes, sûres et accessibles sont indiquées. Cela nécessitera des recherches supplémentaires pour combler les lacunes de la littérature et mieux outiller les diététistes afin qu’ils fassent la promotion du travail interdisciplinaire nécessaire à la création et au soutien de systèmes alimentaires durables, accessibles et appropriés pour cette population vulnérable.
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Financial support: This work was partially supported by The Change Lab Action Research Initiative (CLARI) grant awarded to Phillip Joy. Olivier Ferlatte is supported by a Junior 1 scholar award from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 85 • Number 4 • December 2024
Pages: 418 - 423
Editor: Naomi Cahill
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Version of record online: 7 June 2024
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© 2024.
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MeganWhiteBScN, MA, RN, OlivierFerlattePhD, PhillipJoyPhD, RD, and LindaMannMBA, RD. 2024. Exploring Food Security and Mental Health Among Street-Involved Canadian 2S/LGBTQI+ Youth: A Review of the Literature. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research.
85(4): 418-423. https://doi.org/10.3148/cjdpr-2024-011
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